Frank Lampard was fired by Chelsea after the club’s torrid five-game losing streak in the last eight Premier League games.
The rot that has set in this season puts the Stamford Bridge team in ninth place – and former PSG coach Thomas Tuchel should be hired soon.
On here, Sportsmailby DANIEL MATTHEWS takes a look at where everything went wrong for Lampard at his dream job …
Frank Lampard was fired by Chelsea after his team’s torrid form this season
TRANSFER SPLURGE
It was a peculiarity of Lampard’s spell that his fortune traveled in opposite directions to Chelsea’s power in the transfer market.
At first, the ban on two windows (later halved) that came last summer obviously made the job less attractive to other, more experienced bosses.
And, crucially, it provided a buffer for a Lampard.
Chelsea spending £ 230 million on new faces, including Timo Werner, put Lampard under scrutiny
The coach had an impressive first season – keeping Chelsea in the top four with a young and inexperienced team.
But the lack of hiring also protected him from criticism. That disappeared in the summer, when Chelsea spent £ 230 million on new recruits.
One source felt that the spending gave Chelsea an excuse to make a change if – or when – the results started to change.
FAILURE TO RE-SIGN DECLAN RICE
Yes, Chelsea plunged deep into his pockets last summer. But what about those they didn’t bring?
Lampard made a point of signing West Ham talisman Rice, who could play as a defender or midfielder.
And it’s no wonder that, during the coach’s first season, Chelsea’s defense was a constant headache; Kepa’s flaws undoubtedly masked the disconnected unit in front of him.
It is reported, however, that Rice’s persecution angered Lampard’s bosses. They say they are reluctant to pay a lot of money for a player they launched when they were children, fearing it might seem embarrassing.
Chelsea did not sign Declan Rice from West Ham for fear that it might seem embarrassing to them
FIGHTS WITH NEW PLAYERS
Ultimately, Chelsea’s hierarchy turned red because of some of the signings it sanctioned.
Of course, Edouard Mendy has been a stabilizing influence on goal, while Thiago Silva has added know-how to his defense. The £ 50m man Ben Chilwell has reached a plateau in recent weeks, but remains a significant improvement as a left-back.
Later on, however, Lampard had problems with three players that cost £ 180 million.
Chelsea’s big-money signings showed form, but had a lot of difficulties with Lampard
Hakim Ziyech (£ 38 million) showed flashes of genius when he was not chased by injuries.
Timo Werner (£ 53m) looks like a fantasy for the striker he signed – the goals are over and so is his confidence.
As for Kai Havertz (£ 89 million), the 21-year-old suffered a lot from Covid and has struggled in any form.
BAYERN HUMILIATION
There was no shame in losing to Bayern Munich last season. After all, everyone in Europe fell alongside Hansi Flick.
But the way Chelsea were defeated in the Champions League was revealing.
In the last two matches, they were lucky to lose just 7-1. Lampard himself considered the first leg a “tough lesson” and the return game in Germany was no less punishing.
Chelsea were fortunate to have lost just 7-1 in total to Bayern Munich last season
This served as a clear illustration of how far behind Europe’s elite the club was.
This decline was not only Lampard’s fault. But the way Bayern played with the young Chelsea team put their development in a very clear perspective.
Their struggles against the best Premier League teams this season have also been worrying.
QUESTIONS INSIDE THE CLOTHING ROOM
The task of maintaining unity among a bloated team is never an easy one. It becomes increasingly difficult when the shape begins to diminish. It is almost impossible in a club where politics and player power are abundant.
Even before the recent games, according to a source, there was a feeling that Lampard’s players had fallen on fields – those he trusted and those he was not convinced of.
Antonio Rudiger, a great personality of the team, was among those who were temporarily paralyzed at the beginning of the season.
Lampard’s team split into two camps – the players he trusted and those he wasn’t convinced about.
Other reports on Monday say it resulted in the coach’s departure from the players – except those he liked. And relations were not expected to improve when Lampard publicly criticized his players in recent weeks.
But the manager’s cause was also not helped by Chelsea’s failure to add more fuel last summer.
Kepa’s future has become a bone of contention, with Lampard eager to replace him, but the club is reluctant to lose the goalkeeper at a reduced price.