Premier League pundit Peter Crouch has described it as ‘harsh’ that former England teammate Frank Lampard was sacked by Chelsea, suggesting that if anyone deserved more time in that job it would be the Stamford Bridge legend.
Lampard paid the price for a run of form that had seen Chelsea lose five of their last eight Premier League games and slide into a mid-table position, despite being equipped with well over £200m worth of new players during the summer.
The 42-year-old’s last game in charge was an improved result in an FA Cup fourth round win over Championship side Luton, having previously complained that too many of his players weren’t doing enough of the basics or putting the work in during games.
The Chelsea hierarchy pulled the metaphorical trigger on Monday and owner Roman Abramovich said the decision should not take away from Lampard’s status as a club legend. But Crouch was hoping his former international colleague would have more time to make his mark.
“Brutal. That's a good word,” he said talking to 90min’s Ben Haines.
“It's just harsh. It felt like Chelsea were getting something back when they hired Frank. I think they had sort of lost their way a little bit, lost their identity, and it felt like Frank was an institution at the football club and an absolute club legend.
“He started bringing through some of the young players like Reece James, Tammy Abraham, Billy Gilmour. They've got Mason Mount running things in midfield and it felt like there was some sort of identity back at the club,” Crouch continued.
The gauntlet was laid down for an inexperienced Lampard from the moment he took the job, with Chelsea serving a transfer ban at the time that prevented him from immediately putting his own stamp on the squad, other than promoting from within.
But the Blues still reached the 2020 FA Cup final and finished in the Premier League top four to ensure they would be playing in the Champions League this season and Crouch suggests that, even though bad results are impossible to ignore, those achievements warranted more patience.
“For him to do as well as he did and get the club in the Champions League when they were struggling. Then they were top of the league, what? A couple of months ago when they were doing well,” the ex-Liverpool, Tottenham and Stoke striker said.
“Yes, he was going through his first blip and they're not playing well, you can't dress it up. He’ll have been disappointed Frank, with his team, but to sack him after his first dip in form does feel so harsh.
“We're all surprised, but are we surprised? When Frank took the job, he would have known how ruthless the owner can be. We'd all like to think [it would have been different] but it’s been proven that it’s just not.
“The owner has been incredibly successful over the years doing it his way. You have to say that. But it just felt like something was a change this time because if anyone deserved a bit of grace for a slight dip in form at the moment, then you think it'd be Frank. But it's not proven to be the case.”
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Source: 90min
