The return of Frank Lampard as interim manager at Chelsea has so far not been a happy one for the Blues club icon. Against Arsenal, Lampard lost for the sixth time in a row in all competitions with his faltering formation.
Lampard writes negative history: dramatic series continues
Lampard (44) was appointed as a temporary replacement for the fired Graham Potter at the beginning of April, but Chelsea’s all-time top goalscorer has not yet been able to turn the tide at Stamford Bridge. In fact, The Blues have not yet won a duel under his leadership. Lampard was already critical of the current direction within the club on Tuesday evening.
The counter is already at six defeats for Lampard: in the Premier League Chelsea fell against Wolverhampton Wanderers (1-0), Brighton & Hove Albion (1-2), Brentford (0-2) and Arsenal (3-1). In the Champions League, Real Madrid proved too strong twice (2-0 and 0-2). Chelsea only scored twice under Lampard and conceded twelve goals.
10 match losing streak
Lampard has lost his last ten official games as a manager due to the loss at Arsenal. He is the first English manager, working in the top English division, since 1988 to lose a match ten times in a row. Former Derby County manager Arthur Cox preceded the former Chelsea captain over 25 years ago.
Lampard also lost his last four games at Everton earlier this season, where the former England international started this year as manager. Of his twenty league games this season with The Toffees, Lampard also won only four. Between July 2019 and January 2021, Lampard had already played Chelsea in 84 official matches (44 wins, 15 draws and 25 defeats).
Upcoming fixtures
Chelsea has now dropped to twelfth place in the Premier League and is nine points clear of the relegation zone. The Londoners will play against Bournemouth (away), Nottingham Forest (home), Manchester City (away), Manchester United (away) and Newcastle United (home) in the remaining five games.
Outspoken Lampard is criticized and applauded after another blow against Arsenal
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was quite critical of the state of affairs at The Blues after the defeat at Arsenal.
Chelsea lost for the fourteenth time in 33 league matches on Tuesday evening. For the first time since 2004, The Blues now also lost three times in a row to fellow townsman Arsenal. “Chelsea have had great successes over the last 20 years, but at the moment we are in a very different situation,” Lampard told Sky Sports.
“Since I’ve been back at Chelsea I can see behind the scenes. And on the training ground what caused that situation. We can’t change that in a day, but something needs to be done soon. We play very passively and that is due to several things. The players are working on that, but there is little confidence at the moment. Still, even without much confidence you have to keep reaching a certain level as a player at Chelsea,” said Lampard.
