Chelsea FC, Atlético de Madrid’s rival in the Champions League round of 16, has fired their coach, Frank Lampard, due to the poor results obtained this season, the team reported this Monday, and will be replaced by the German Thomas Tuchel, according to the television channel Sky Sports.
With this decision, 42-year-old former Chelsea midfielder, leaves the post after just eighteen months, with the team in ninth place in the Premier League after 19 games, following the recent loss to Leicester City.
His last victory was this Sunday, when the club won 3-1 in the FA Cup against Luton.
“It was a very difficult decision, and one that has not been taken lightly by the owner (Roman Abramovich) and the Council, “the club said in a statement.
In Chelsea’s opinion, “the recent results and performances have not met the club’s expectations, leaving it in the middle of the table without no clear path to improvement. “
The club calls Lampard a “legend”, but he believes that a change is needed so that the team has time to straighten out the season.
In the same note, Abramovich highlighted the “excellent personal relationship and respect” he feels for the technician, but considered appropriate replace it “in the present circumstances”.
“He is an important icon of this great club and his status here does not diminish. You will always be welcome at Stamford Bridge“, stressed the owner.
According to British media, Lampard, who took office in July 2019 with a three-year contract replacing Maurizio Sarri, will be replaced by Tuchel, former coach of the German club Borussia Dortmund and the French club PSG, from where he was fired last December to make way for Argentine Mauricio Pochettino.
Not even the great investment in transfers made by Abramovich last summer, with the incorporation of figures such as Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech, has managed to secure Lampard on a bench as hot as Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea had a great streak of 17 games without losing this season, before starting to collapse in mid-December in a series of defeats to direct rivals for the Champions League spots.
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