Inside 30-minute breakfast meeting that led to Frank Lampard’s sacking
Football
By
Mirror
| Jan 26, 2021
Frank Lampard was told his tenure as Chelsea boss was over during a 9 am breakfast meeting at Stamford Bridge on Monday morning.
The Blues legend had been in charge of his former side since July 2019, taking over from Maurizio Sarri.
In his first season, Lampard guided Chelsea to a top-four finish while the club navigated their way through a transfer ban.
Chelsea then went on a spending spree last summer, bringing in the likes of Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Ben Chilwell and Edouard Mendy as well as Thiago Silva on a free.
But those players have failed to deliver a return so far this season and Chelsea now sit ninth in the Premier League, 11 points behind leaders Manchester United.
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And despite his side beating Luton 3-1 in the FA Cup on Sunday, Lampard found himself hauled in for a surprise breakfast meeting on Monday morning.
According to The Sun, Lampard was about to set off to Chelsea's Cobham training base when he was summoned to Stamford Bridge for a meeting with chief Bruce Buck and director Marina Granovskaia.
It is understood that Lampard knew what was coming as soon as he got the call.
Despite the news, there were no raised voices and the half-hour meeting was played out amicably and professionally.
However, it's believed that the discussions were difficult, sad and sombre as Lampard was told why owner Roman Abramovich had made his mind up.
Lampard's coaching colleagues were also contacted by the club's chiefs and delivered the bad news.
The Chelsea board first started weighing up Lampard's future following the club's Boxing Day defeat to Arsenal.
Resulting defeats to Manchester City and Leicester City only compounded Lampard's fate.
Abramovich's close relationship with the club's record goalscorer saved him for a couple of weeks, but in the end the results spoke for themselves.
The Russian posted a statement on Chelsea's website when the news was announced.
“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," said Abramovich.
“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.”