Lampard: Gerrard “gutted” to hear of former teammate’s Chelsea dismissal

Emmet Gates

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 2 min read

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has admitted that he’s “gutted” about the sacking of former England teammate Frank Lampard by Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge side, despite spending £200m in the transfer market last summer, fired Lampard after a poor run of results, and are expected to announce former Borussia Dortmund and PSG coach Thomas Tuchel as his replacement in the coming days.

Gerrard, speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Rangers’ clash with Hibernian, believes that Lampard’s sacking ‘wasn’t a surprise’.

“Obviously I’m gutted for Frank, he’s an ex-team-mate of mine, someone I respect greatly,” said Gerrard.

“But knowing the guy, he will be back in no time. He will dust himself down and get back involved. He will use this time to spend with his family. He’s obviously got a young family and one on the way.

“I’m disappointed for him. I thought it was a very swift exit on the back of a positive result at the weekend.

“But I don’t know the details. I don’t know how it’s been for him [Lampard], I don’t know the relationships that he’s had inside the club.

“I did think it was an opportunity for Chelsea to really reach out and support him during this tough period rather than do what they have done.

“But Chelsea have got history for that so it was no surprise.”

Lampard arrived at Stamford Bridge after only a single season in charge of Derby County in the Championship, in which he failed to win promotion to the Premier League.

Lampard leaves Chelsea having won 44 of his 84 matches, with 15 draws and 25 losses, in all competitions.

The Blues currently lie ninth in the Premier League table, and have only won once in their last five encounters.

They are due to meet Atletico Madrid in the Round of 16 in the Champions League next month.