THOMAS TUCHEL will replace Frank Lampard as Chelsea manager after the Stamford Bridge legend was SACKED.
The club's record scorer Lampard had been under pressure in recent weeks, and boss Roman Abramovich CONFIRMED the decision on Monday morning.
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- Marc Mayo
GOOD MORNING BLUES FANS
Chelsea sensationally sacked manager Frank Lampard on Monday morning, less than 24 hours after the 3-1 FA Cup win against Luton.
Lampard was summoned to Stamford Bridge by Roman Abramovich and given his marching orders as training at Cobham was scrapped.
Thomas Tuchel is now expected to become the next Chelsea gaffer following his PSG exit last month.
The German will sign an 18-month deal with the option of an extra year.
And SunSport can exclusively reveal Tuchel will be expected to challenge for the title this season despite the Blues being 11 points off top.
Meanwhile, Chelsea supporters group We Are The Shed told SunSport they have demanded that the ‘In Frank We Trust’ banner remains in place at Stamford Bridge.
The group raised over £1,000 to have it made and also claim that there would be protests at Lampard’s sacking if not for coronavirus protocols.
His axing feels like a ‘slap in the face’ and they add that Chelsea fans have never felt so adrift from the club.
Lampard himself released a statement on Monday evening expressing his thanks to fans for their support.
He said: “It has been a huge privilege and an honour to manage Chelsea, a club that has been a big part of my life for so long.
“I would like to thank the fans for the incredible support that I have received over the last 18 months. I hope they know what that means to me.
“I wish the team and the club every success for the future.”
- Anthony Chapman
EXCLUSIVE BY ANDY DILLON
Thomas Tuchel will become Chelsea’s new boss under orders to make them title contenders THIS season.
Chelsea are ninth in the table, five points adrift of the top four and 11 behind leaders Manchester United.
Former Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund boss Tuchel is under pressure from Blues owner Roman Abramovich to produce an immediate revival and catch up with United.
- Anthony Chapman
EXCLUSIVE BY JORDAN DAVIES
Chelsea supporters group We Are The Shed have demanded that the ‘In Frank We Trust’ banner remains in place at Stamford Bridge.
They raised over £1,000 to have it made and also claim that there would be protests at Lampard’s sacking if not for coronavirus protocols.
His axing feels like a ‘slap in the face’ and they add that Chelsea fans have never felt so adrift from the club.
- Anthony Chapman
TUCH OF CLASS
Thomas Tuchel could be putting out a fearsome starting XI next season if Chelsea land some of their top targets.
Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland and RB Leipzig's Dayot Upamecano are just two players reported to be on the shopping list.
And Tuchel could also use his connections to sign one or two former players from PSG.
Here's how Chelsea could look next term with Tuchel at the helm…
- Anthony Chapman
FROM SUNSPORT’S MARTIN LIPTON
Chelsea are looking to confirm Thomas Tuchel as soon as possible, even though he is subject to Covid quarantine rules.
However, if Tuchel gives two negative samples, one before leaving Germany and another before entering the Chelsea bubble, he will be allowed to work inside the bubble at training and games.
And when he’s not at training or matches, Tuchel will have to be in quarantine for five days.
- Anthony Chapman
BREAKING
Frank Lampard has spoken for the first time since being axed by Chelsea.
A statement released via the League Managers Association read: “It has been a huge privilege and an honour to manage Chelsea, a club that has been a big part of my life for so long.
"Firstly, I would like to thank the fans for the incredible support that I have received over the last 18 months. I hope they know what that means to me.
"When I took on this role I understood the challenges that lay ahead in a difficult time for the football club.
"I am proud of the achievements that we made, and I am proud of the academy players that have made their step into the first team and performed so well. They are the future of the club.
"I am disappointed not to have had the time this season to take the club forward and bring it to the next level.
"I want to thank Mr Abramovich, the board, players, my coaching team and everyone at the club for their hard work and dedication, especially in these unprecedented and challenging times.
"I wish the team and the club every success for the future.”
- Anthony Chapman
FROM SUNSPORT’S MARTIN LIPTON
Prem chiefs believe they are winning the Covid battle after reporting the first clear testing round this season.
The latest two sets of samples saw eight positive cases out of 2,518 tests of players and club staff.
But all eight positives came from the first testing round between January 18 and 24.
And the second set, conducted between Friday and Sunday and seeing 1,112 players and staff giving samples, brought the clear round.
That compares with last week’s tally of 16 positives, 36 the previous week and a record 40 across the week straddling January 1.
Prem bosses brought in a series of enhanced Covid protocols and measures on January 7, which has had a major impact.
The last previous clear round had been from the final set of tests of Project Restart at the end of July.
- Anthony Chapman
ED HUNTER
Joe Edwards took charge of Chelsea training on Monday following Frank Lampard's sacking.
The first-team coach has been a mainstay at Cobham after managing Chelsea's youth teams.
And it appears Edwards will be staying put under incoming gaffer Thomas Tuchel.
- Anthony Chapman
BRU-WOAH
No player has been involved in more Premier League goals during the last year than Bruno Fernandes.
The Man Utd star has contributed to a stunning 45 goals in his first year at Old Trafford.
That puts him ahead of Spurs' Harry Kane, Liverpool's Mo Salah and Man City's Kevin De Bruyne.
- Anthony Chapman
TUCH AND GO
Thomas Tuchel could make a signing or two for new club Chelsea before the winter window closes.
And he will certainly dip into the transfer market in preparation for the 2011/22 campaign.
Here are Tuchel’s five most likely signings, according to Betfair:
- Declan Rice – 5/1
- Idrissa Gueye – 10/1
- Marco Verratti – 10/1
- Marcel Sabitzer – 16/1
- Eric Choupo-Moting – 20/1
FRANKLY SPEAKING
Thiago Silva had some warm words for Frank Lampard following the tactician's Chelsea exit on Monday.
The veteran defender was lured to Stamford Bridge on a free transfer from PSG after lengthy talks with Lamps over the summer.
Silva, who was a mainstay in the Englishman's team, tweeted: "I would like to thank you for everything you and your committee have done for me since the day I arrived.
“As I told you, it seemed like we had been working together for ten years!
“Thank you very much for everything legend.”
SILVA SURFER
Thiago Silva could be in for an awkward encounter with Thomas Tuchel after calling his PSG sacking last month 'predictable'.
Silva told RMC Sport: “It’s difficult but it was predictable that this was going to happen.
“Not now, but being inside, we knew there were situations that had to be changed.
“In my opinion, [sporting director] Leonardo took the situation in hand, he made his choice.
“We do not know if it was good, it was not at all for Tuchel and his staff. This change was not planned at this time.”
YOU'RE TOAST
Exclusive by Martin Lipton: Frank Lampard was summoned to a breakfast time sacking – after Roman Abramovich decided the former Blues midfielder’s reign could not be rescued.
Abramovich made the final call to sack Lampard – who will be replaced by German Thomas Tuchel – after seeing no real signs of improvement in the FA Cup win over Luton.
While the Chelsea owner was desperate to give Lampard time to turn his listing Blues ship away from the rocks, Abramovich reluctantly agreed that a change had to be made to prevent the entire season capsizing and took what was described as a very difficult decision.
SunSport can reveal that the final act of Lampard’s 18-month tenure came when he was summoned to Stamford Bridge for a 9am meeting with chairman Bruce Buck and director Marina Granovskaia and told he was being relieved of his command.
Lampard, who had been preparing to set off for the Cobham training ground when he received the call, knew what was coming when he arrived.
LONDON CALLING
Thomas Tuchel is reportedly set to be unveiled to Chelsea's players today after their training session.
German outlet SportBild claim the former Paris Saint-Germain chief will then be on the bench for Wedesday's game against Wolves.
NICK OF TIME
Ralf Rangnick was offered the Chelsea job on an interim basis until the end of the season following last week's 2-0 defeat to Leicester City, according to reports.
According to The Athletic, major concerns were raised over Lampard's future within the Chelsea hierarchy, following the 3-1 loss to Arsenal on Boxing Day.
And the defeat to Leicester last week proved to be the final straw, with a 'furious' Roman Abramovich deciding to begin the process of recruiting Lampard's successor.
Determined to find a German speaker in order to get the best out of expensive summer recruits Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, Abramovich's first port of call was the highly-rated Rangnick.
Despite being free, having left his position as head of sport at Red Bull last July, Rangnick turned the Blues down, however.
It's claimed that he wasn't happy with Chelsea's proposal of a contract only running until the end of the season, despite the Blues' plans to elevate him into a different role come the summer.
- Joe Brophy
GET IN TUCH
Thomas Tuchel has agreed to take over from Frank Lampard as Chelsea boss – and will be in charge for Wednesday night's game against Wolves, according to reports.
Sky Sports claim the German is on the brink of taking over from Frank Lampard, who was sacked earlier on Monday.
Sky's Max Bielefeld has claimed the deal has been 'agreed' with the paperwork currently being drawn up.
The report states there were no other candidates for the job, despite Massimiliano Allegri and Julian Nagelsmann being linked.
- Joe Brophy
FOX HUNT
Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers has expressed his sympathy for Frank Lampard after he was sacked by Chelsea.
He said: "I'm really sad for Frank, I know how much the club means for him.
"Looking at the squad, and how young they are, it's a team and squad that needs time, and unfortunately he hasn't been given that time.
"I really really feel for him, he had the courage to step out of an amazing career as a player, he could have had an easier route, done a great job at Derby and he couldn't really turn it down.
"He did a good job last season. results might not have been what he wanted as he is a winner. He needed time and sadly for him he hasn't got that time."
- Joe Brophy
DOUBLE TROUBLE
SunSport's Mark Fleming writes: "Frank Lampard did such a great job in his first year at Chelsea that his sudden sacking today has come as a shock.
"A shock, yes, but perhaps not a surprise.
"And nothing has been more symbolic of Lampard's failure than his handling of his two star signings – Timo Werner and Kai Havertz.
"The two Germans arrived in the summer, Werner for £53m and Havertz for £70m, with so much promise.
"But both are now shadows of the men who took the Bundesliga by storm."
Read more HERE.
- Joe Brophy
MAGIC TUCH
The Athletic claim Chelsea's manager-in-waiting Thomas Tuchel is expected to be announced tomorrow.
- Joe Brophy
CAN'T TUCH THIS
Thomas Tuchel is the favourite to take over at Chelsea after Frank Lampard was given the boot this morning.
Here's how the German's version of the Blues could look…
- Joe Brophy
MOUR GAME TIME
Billy Gilmour's Chelsea future is now up in the air after Frank Lampard claimed he could leave the club on loan a day before he was sacked.
The Blues had intended to keep the loan option 'open' – and if he leaves, Gilmour will become the 32nd player the West Londoners have out on loan.
Ex-Chelsea boss Lamps had said: "At the moment, he won't go on loan but we will keep it open until the end of the month."
- Joe Brophy
LAMPARD'S LAST EVER CAPTAIN
Mason Mount has revealed a picture of him in a Chelsea kit at the age of 6 after captaining the Blues for the first time at the weekend.
The 22-year-old became the youngest skipper for the club since John Terry when he led his side to a 3-1 victory over Luton Town in the fourth round of the FA Cup – Frank Lampard's last game in charge.
- Joe Brophy
SOFT TUCH
Chelsea have revealed that they will be making no further comment until such time as a new Head Coach is appointed.
Widespread reports this morning claim that the Blues are close to agreeing a deal with Thomas Tuchel.
The German has been without a club since he was dismissed from his job at Paris Saint-Germain.
- Joe Brophy
RESULTS GAME
Chelsea have released a statement explaining their decision to sack Frank Lampard.
It read: "This has been a very difficult decision, and not one that the owner and the Board have taken lightly.
"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.
"There can never be a good time to part ways with a club legend such as Frank, but after lengthy deliberation and consideration it was decided a change is needed now to give the Club time to improve performances and results this season."
- Joe Brophy
BRIDGE TOO FAR
Frank Lampard leaves Chelsea as their worst Premier League boss since Roman Abramovich bought the club, according to the statistics.
His points-per-game (PPG) record of 1.67 was just behind that of Andre Villas-Boas at the bottom of the pile before his dismissal as Blues boss on Monday.
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