Speaking to ESPN Brasil (h/t Daily Star), Chelsea midfielder Jorginho has slammed former manager Frank Lampard, claiming that he was never ready for the job.
Lampard, a Chelsea legend, was named the first-team manager ahead of the 2019/20 season after Maurizio Sarri was relieved of his duties. Prior to taking up the job, the former midfielder had just one season of managerial experience under him, with EFL Championship club Derby County.
While Lampard did largely well in his first season, leading Chelsea to a top-four finish with a transfer embargo in place, things started to unravel for him in the ongoing campaign. Inconsistent performances, poor results, the inability to get the best out of the marquee summer signings, all meant that he was let go of by the Blues in January earlier this year.
Now, Jorginho has taken aim at his former gaffer, claiming that Lampard skipped a few steps on the way to become Chelsea manager because of his standing within the club.
“Look, I’ll be really sincere here on Lampard. I believe, given he was a legend at the club, he skipped some steps necessary for learning before moving to a big club. He came to a club where he is a legend, without having experience at other clubs.
“I think he came too soon, skipped a few steps ahead and wasn’t ready for a job at this level, to be honest.”
Jorginho’s words indicate that Lampard may not have been able to win over all the players on his side during his time as the Chelsea manager. When he left, the Blues were teetering in the 9th place in the table, looking down and out of the top-four race.
That has changed under his successor, Thomas Tuchel, with the Blues right in thick of things for a top-four finish.
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