IT seems some sackings are harder than others at Chelsea.
The Blues brutally swung the axe on Frank Lampard yesterday after 18 months in charge, but owner Roman Abramovich showed he retains the utmost respect for the club legend.
Frank Lampard was sacked as Chelsea boss on MondayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Chelsea’s statement helped highlight the relationship between Lampard and the club… but it was very different when Jose Mourinho was given the boot.
Journalist Adam Hurrey crunched the numbers to work out how Lampard’s sacking statement compared to the rest.
The 42-year-old’s statement was 246-words long with messages thanking him for his effort, wishing him well for the future and welcoming him back to Stamford Bridge.
Compare that to Mourinho’s damning statement in 2007 after he fell out with Abramovich.
Despite leaving as the most successful manager in the club’s history with six trophies in three years, a 16-word statement read: “Chelsea Football Club and José Mourinho have agreed to part company today (Thursday) by mutual consent.”
Lampard’s was the second longest statement behind Maurizio Sarri’s 530-words after he left in 2019 in order to manage Juventus.
Chelsea called Lampard into a 9am meeting at the Cobham training complex with chairman Bruce Buck and director Marina Granovskaia.
The half-hour meeting was sombre and sad in tone as Lampard was told how Abramovich had come to his decision.
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Jose Mourinho was given a brutal 16-word statement in 2007Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Only Abramovich’s personal relationship with Lampard, and his justified legendary status as the club’s record goalscorer, meant that the Russian did not pull the plug earlier in the season.
Abramovich’s statement read: “This was a very difficult decision for the Club, not least because I have an excellent personal relationship with Frank and I have the utmost respect for him’.
“He is a man of great integrity and has the highest of work ethics. However, under current circumstances we believe it is best to change managers.
“On behalf of everyone at the Club, the Board and personally, I would like to thank Frank for his work as Head Coach and wish him every success in the future.
“He is an important icon of this great club and his status here remains undiminished. He will always be warmly welcomed back at Stamford Bridge.”
Chelsea look set to appoint former Paris Saint-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel on Tuesday.
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Abramovich has spent over £110m on sacking managers since his 2003 arrival
Guardiola reacts to Lampard’s sacking and says you have to win or you will be replaced
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
