Chelsea will have a new manager to face Sheffield United after Frank Lampard sacked today

A Chelsea statement confirming the news read: “We are grateful to Frank for what he has achieved in his time as head coach of the club. However, recent results and performances have not met the club’s expectations, leaving the club mid-table without any clear path to sustained improvement.”

Owner Roman Abramovich said: “This was a very difficult decision for the club, not least because I have an excellent personal relationship with Frank and I have the utmost respect for him’.

“He is a man of great integrity and has the highest of work ethics. However, under current circumstances we believe it is best to change managers.

“On behalf of everyone at the club, the board and personally, I would like to thank Frank for his work as head coach and wish him every success in the future. He is an important icon of this great club and his status here remains undiminished. He will always be warmly welcomed back at Stamford Bridge.”

The Blues have lost five of their last eight games in the Premier League, although they did beat Luton Town in the FA Cup yesterday courtesy of Tammy Abraham's hat-trick.

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Lampard, a legend at Stamford Bridge as a player, returned as manager in 2019 after cutting his teeth at Derby County. In his first season in charge, he led the Blues into the Champions League and reached the FA Cup final despite not signing any new players.

But the arrivals of Ben Chilwell, Kai Havertz and Timo Werner have failed to translate into improved results and they are ninth in the Premier League at the halfway point.

The Blues have lost six times already in the division, with five of them during their last eight matches and the scrutiny on the former midfielder increased even more following the comprehensive loss at Leicester.

Chelsea could turn to out-of-work Thomas Tuchel, formerly of Paris Saint-Germain, or ex-Juventus coach Max Allegri.

The Blues travel to Bramall Lane next weekend, after beating the Blades 4-1 at Stamford Bridge.

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