5 hrs ago |
by Belgian
Frank Lampard is no longer Chelsea coach, the London Premier League club announced on Monday. The 42-year-old former England international, who led the Chelsea midfielder between 2001 and 2014, was appointed head of the Blues on July 4, 2019. It was his first experience at the highest level after a season at the head of Derby County, which was playing in the Championship. He led the club, where Eden Hazard, Courtois, Batshuayi, De Bruyne and other Romelu Lukaku have played in the past, to 4th place in the championship, qualifying for the Champions League.
“This decision was very difficult to make, and the owner and the board did not take it lightly. We are grateful to Frank for what he accomplished during his tenure as head coach of the club. However, the results and recent performance have fallen short of the club’s expectations, leaving the club in the middle of the table with no clear path to lasting improvement, “the club wrote in a statement.
“It was a very difficult decision for the Club, not least because I have an excellent personal relationship with Frank and have the utmost respect for him,” added Roman Abramovich, the club owner. “He is a man of great integrity and has the highest professional ethics. However, under the current circumstances, we believe it is better to change managers.”
Chelsea are currently 9th in the Premier League table, 11 points behind leaders Manchester United after having won just two wins in their last eight games (five losses, one draw).
On Sunday, Lampard, after his last match on the London bench, saw his players qualify for the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Chelsea are still in the Champions League race. He will face Atlético Madrid in the round of 16 (February 23 and March 17).
According to several British media, the German Thomas Tuchel, thanked in December by PSG, would be the favorite to succeed him at Stamford Bridge.
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