Chelsea Football Club part ways with Frank Lampard

Chelsea sack Frank Lampard with Thomas Tuchel to be appointed

Chelsea sack Head Coach Frank Lampard after 18 months with Thomas Tuchel set to replace him

Chelsea Football Club today have announced the sacking of Frank Lampard less than 24 hours after the clubs 3-1 win in the Fa Cup  fourth round against Luton Town , with former PSG head coach Thomas Tuchel set to replace him. 

In his statement released on Chelsea's website owner Roman Abramovich took the unprecedented step in explaining the reason for Lampard's departure from Stamford Bridge something with he has never done before. 

In his statement Abramovich said "This is one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make not only because of the special relationship I have with Frank and I have the upmost respect for him. 

" He is a man of great integrity and has a very high work ethic . However, under our current circumstances we felt it was the best decision to change managers."

"On behalf of everyone at the club, the board and personally I would like to thank Frank for all of his hard work as head coach and wish him great success in the future. He will always remain an important icon of this club and his status will remain forever undiminished. He will always be welcomed back at Stamford Bridge.

Ex technical director Michael Emenalo and director Marina Granovskaia have had previous responsibilities in managerial departures and appoints,  however, Abramovich felt the need to sack Lampard himself and to make it clear that he took responsibility for the change.

The news of Lampard's sacking broke early on Monday morning after Chelsea's players were told not to report for training until 2pm on Monday afternoon. 

On Monday morning Lampard was relieved of his duties with Chelsea expected to announce Thomas Tuchel as his successor. 

An official statement from the club announced "Chelsea Football Club have today parted ways with Frank Lampard." 

"This has not been an easy decision to make for the owners and the board who have not taken this lightly."

"We express sincere gratitude towards Frank for his achievements in his time as head coach of Chelsea Football Club. However, recently results have not met the clubs ambitions, requirements and targets set, leaving the club in a mid-table position with any clear path to improvement."

"There can never be a good time to part ways with an iconic legend such as Frank, however, after lengthy deliberations and consideration a decision was made that change needed to occur in order to provide the club with an improvement in performances and results this season." 

Ideally Lampard could have been sacked immediately after a 2-0 defeat against Leicester, which was Chelsea's fifth defeat in eight games, had the club opted for an internal candidate to take charge as caretaker.

Despite this there was no ready made placement ready so Chelsea had to go about finding a successor to Lampard with Tuchel deemed to be the best man available for the job. 

Lampard had always remained confident that he could turn the clubs fortune around both in results and performances and would have been heartened with Sundays FA cup win.

But owner Roman Abramovich became extremely concerned that a top 4 finish would not be achieved and believed Chelsea were far from challenging the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool, which had been the target for Lampard at the beginning of the season. 

With Tuchel's arrival spells a new optimism of hope in getting the best out of Chelsea's expensive German signings Timo Werner and Kai Havertz who are yet to fire this season as well as Chelsea's whole squad being in need of a lift.

Despite performing better Werner missed a penalty, whilst Havertz made a late substitutes appearance. 

There will however, be an element of risk with Tuchel's appointment, given Chelsea being warned of the German during the reign of Antonio Conte due to fall outs with his former employers.

Chelsea have yet to confirm whether Lampard's backroom staff will depart the club with him, what is known though is that number 2 Jody Morris is expected to follow Lampard out of the exit door.

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers said " I am really upset for Frank and his backroom staff . I know how much the club means to him and everything he has given to the club as a player."

I feel really bad for him. He has had an exceptional career as a player and had the opportunity to take an easier route after his playing days but he opted to go straight into management.

"He did a great job a Derby and there was no way he could turn Chelsea down, last season he did a good job and, okay so results haven't gone the way he would have hoped and expected for, but I feel that the Chelsea job would have required time but unfortunately he had not been provided with that time."

It may not feel like this now but Frank will emerge a better manager from this.

Lampard's Chelsea, by numbers

1.67

Frank Lampard's points per game average — the 4th lowest of any permanent Chelsea manager in the Premier League.

52.4%

Lampard's win rate in all competitions with Chelsea. In the Roman Abramovich era, only Andre Villas-Boas fares worse (47.5%).

26y 58d

Average age of players used in Lampard's starting XIs - only four sides have been younger in the Premier League since he arrived (Man Utd, Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Fulham).

95 points

Chelsea's total in the Premier League under Lampard, since the start of last season, fifth behind Liverpool (133), Man City (119), Man Utd (106) and Leicester City (100).

54

Away goals conceded in the Premier League since the start of last season. Only Newcastle (54) have conceded more.

80

Appearances for Mason Mount under Lampard, the most of any player. Tammy Abraham was the top scorer (29) under him.

15

Points won by Chelsea, under Lampard, against fellow big-six sides - a joint low with Arsenal. Chelsea scored 17 goals and conceded 28 times in 15 such matches.

7

Home Premier League defeats under Lampard, in 28 matches. Only Glenn Hoddle (17) and Claudio Ranieri (11) have lost more Premier League games at Stamford Bridge.

Source: The Telegraph

Managers under the Ownership of Roman Abramovich

Source: The Telegraph

What do we know about Thomas Tuchel?

The German comes with a big pedigree having had plenty of experiences with big European clubs. Tuchel spent two years in Germany managing Borussia Dortmund before moving to France to coach Paris St Germain.  

In his spell in charge of PSG Tuchel won two league titles with the French giants also leading them to their first ever champions league final. However, his spell in charge involved a fallout with his players and saw disharmony in the squad, particularly in the season before his dismissal. 

There were rumours of Chelsea being put off by his management style due to the German's reputation as being difficult to work with. His inability to manage big money players at PSG of which there are many, may have counted against him. 

It appears though on the pitch that Tuchel is considered a safe appointment. As a competent and experienced manager used to dealing with high expectations. 

  

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