Frank Lampard praised Chelsea for 'showing him huge support' during his final interview as the club's manager, just 24 hours before he was sacked.
Lampard was dumped by the London club after their FA Cup victory over Luton Town following a dire run of form in the Premier League. Former Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel is set to take over.
Despite this, the former Chelsea player praised the club for their backing and belief in him, in what turned out to be his final interview in charge at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking after the victory, he said: 'I knew about the banner a week or two ago and quite directly from the people that put it together who are obviously huge supporters of this football club. And I was very appreciative.
'Don't know if emotional is the word but people who know how I feel about this club will understand it’s a two-way thing from the first time I came here nearly 20 years ago.'
Lampard, whose only managerial experience before the Chelsea job came with Championship side Derby, took charge at Stamford Bridge in 2019 and did an impressive job under a transfer ban in his first season.
However, the pressure ramped up on the ex-midfielder after he brought in plenty of big money signings such as Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, who have failed to impress since their arrivals.
Chelsea are currently ninth in the Premier League, five points from the top four and with just one win in their last five matches.
Lampard went on to explain that despite all of the talk surrounding his future at the club, he felt the love from the fanbase and wanted to be remembered as a success.
'I’m very thankful for that support and it’s great to see it at the Bridge,' Lampard continued.
'I feel it very strongly and I know the modern world has moved on, social media and eyes come from all parts of the world.
'One thing that I do know is that when I’m at the Bridge, I’m at a club that I love and that has always shown me huge support as a player and now as a manager.
'So I appreciate it very much. All I want to do is repay that by being successful at the club.'
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