Chelsea

Dimitar Berbatov: 'Frank Lampard was harshly treated at Chelsea'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 27 January 2021

Former Manchester United forward Dimitar Berbatov believes that Chelsea were too quick to sack Frank Lampard after only 18 months at the helm.

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov believes that Frank Lampard was not given enough time in the Chelsea dugout.

The 42-year-old club legend - who has been replaced by Thomas Tuchel - was sacked on Monday after overseeing five defeats from his last eight Premier League matches in charge.

Lampard was relieved of his duties despite securing Champions League qualification and reaching the FA Cup final last season, and Berbatov thinks that the Chelsea hierarchy were too quick to pull the trigger after only 18 months.

Speaking to Betfair, Berbatov said: "There are similarities between Solskjaer and Lampard. Both were legends at their respective clubs and were both managing big clubs.

"Ole was having a tough time at United with ups and downs. People are asking whether he was going to be sacked and now they are challenging for the title. In the case of Lampard, I thought he did a great job of getting Chelsea to qualify for the Champions League.

"Patience is not in huge supply at Chelsea Football Club. I think they should have given him more time to turn things around and allow the new boys to get used to the team.

"Maybe the reason is that Frank has spent so much on new players that they needed to do something. He wanted these specific players to be bought, Havertz, Werner and Ziyech.

"I get the impression he wanted these players and if they are not producing, it is a bad thing for them, the club and the manager so you will take the blame for this. I just think 18 months is too short a period, especially if in the first season they qualified for the top four."

Tuchel did not enjoy the perfect start to his Chelsea reign as the Blues were held to a goalless draw by Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday evening - a result which leaves them five points adrift of the top four in eighth.