[ad_1]
Frank Lampard has been sacked by Chelsea after the club’s scorching streak of five defeats in their last eight Premier League games.
The rot that has set in this season puts Stamford Bridge outfit in ninth place – and former PSG boss Thomas Tuchel is expected to be hired shortly.
Here, Sports messagingDANIEL MATTHEWS by DANIEL MATTHEWS takes a look at Lampard’s troubles in his dream job …
Frank Lampard has been sacked by Chelsea after his team’s scorching run this season
SPLURGE TRANSFER
It was a strange oddity of Lampard’s charm that his fortune had traveled in opposite directions to Chelsea’s power in the transfer market.
In the beginning, the two-window ban (later halved) that took place last summer obviously made the job less attractive to other, more experienced bosses.
And above all, he provided a Lampard with a buffer.
Chelsea splash £ 230million on new faces including Timo Werner put Lampard on watch
The manager has enjoyed an impressive first season – keeping Chelsea in the top four with a young and inexperienced side.
But the lack of signatures also protected him from some criticism. That disappeared this summer, when Chelsea spent £ 230million on new signings.
A source felt the expense gave Chelsea the excuse to make a change if – or when – results started to turn.
NON-SIGNATURE OF DECLAN RICE
Yes, Chelsea dipped in their pockets last summer. But what about those they didn’t bring?
Lampard was keen to sign West Ham talisman Rice, who could register at center-back or midfield.
And no wonder, in the manager’s first season, Chelsea’s back line had been a constant headache; Kepa’s failures no doubt masked the disjointed unity before him.
It is reported, however, that Rice’s lawsuit angered Lampard’s bosses. They were reportedly reluctant to pay a lot of money for a player they released as a child, fearing it might seem embarrassing.
Chelsea did not sign Declan Rice from West Ham for fear it would seem embarrassing to them
FIGHT WITH NEW PLAYERS
As it turned out, Chelsea’s hierarchy was left in the red by some of the signings they sanctioned.
Of course, Edouard Mendy was a stabilizing influence in goal, while Thiago Silva added skill to their defense. £ 50million man Ben Chilwell has leveled off in recent weeks but there remains a significant upgrade at left-back.
Further on, however, Lampard struggled with three players who cost £ 180million.
Chelsea’s silver signings showed flashes of form but struggled widely under Lampard
Hakim Ziyech (£ 38million) showed genius when he was not injured.
Timo Werner (£ 53million) looks like a costume of the striker they signed – goals have dried up and his confidence is also gone.
As for Kai Havertz (£ 89million), the 21-year-old has suffered a lot with Covid and has struggled for all kinds of form.
BAYERN HUMILIATION
There was no shame in losing to Bayern Munich last season. After all, everyone in Europe has fallen for Hansi Flick.
But the manner of Chelsea’s Champions League defeat was revealing.
In the last two innings, they were fortunate enough to lose only 7-1. Lampard himself called the first leg a “hard lesson” and the return leg in Germany was no less repulsive.
Chelsea were fortunate enough to have lost only 7-1 overall to Bayern Munich last season
It showed how far behind the European elite the club are.
This decline was far from Lampard’s sole fault. But the way Bayern played with the young Chelsea side put their development in a pretty clear perspective.
Their struggles against the Premier League’s top teams this season have also been of concern.
PROBLEMS IN THE DRESSING ROOM
The task of maintaining unity in a bloated team is never easy. It gets harder and harder as the shape starts to dip. This is almost impossible in a club where politics and player power have been rife for a long time.
Even before recent matches, according to a source, there was a feeling that Lampard’s players were falling into camps – those he trusted and those he wasn’t convinced by.
Antonio Rudiger, a big figure on the team, was among those briefly frozen earlier this season.
Lampard’s side fell into two camps – players he trusted and those he wasn’t convinced
Other reports from Monday say this has led the manager to be aloof with the players – except those he loved. And relations were not likely to improve when Lampard has publicly criticized his players in recent weeks.
But the manager’s cause also hasn’t been helped by Chelsea’s inability to throw more deadwood last summer.
Kepa’s future has become a bone of contention, with Lampard keen to replace him, but the club reluctant to lose the goalkeeper for a discount.
[ad_2]
Source link