Frank Lampard has blunt response to former team-mate Didier Drogba’s scathing Chelsea comments
FRANK LAMPARD has shut out Didier Drogba’s scathing verdict on Chelsea.
Lampard is the first Blues’ manager to lose his first four games and Drogba says he no longer “recognises” his old club.
Real Madrid’s 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night completed a 4-0 aggregate route to the Champions League semi-finals.
Lampard is now 8/1 to be sacked as Chelsea manager for the second time, despite only being interim boss this time.
And covering the game for French TV channel Canal+, fellow club legend Drogba said: “I don’t recognise my club. It’s no longer the same club.
“There is a new owner and a new vision. Of course, we try to compare it with what happened during the [Roman] Abramovich era where a lot of players were brought in, but the decisions were very intelligent.
“Bringing in players like Petr Cech, Andriy Shevchenko, Herman Crespo, Michael Essien, Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, and I go on. It was done to win titles. They are players with a certain experience.
“The strategy is now different – we bet on young players.
“But a dressing room of over 30 players is difficult for a manager.”
Graham Potter spent £223million on eight January signing, only to be axed by club owner Todd Boehly on April 3.
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Yet successor Lampard is still struggling to find real firepower.
Asked about the iconic former striker’s comments, he would only say: “They’re Didier’s comments, sorry.”
Chelsea have reportedly contacted former Tottenham chief Mauricio Pochettino about the permanent position.
Ex-Bayern manager Julian Nagelsmann is also on the shortlist.
But it’s understood former Spain and Barcelona boss Luis Enrique is out of the running.