ROMAN ‘NEVER SPOKE TO LAMPARD’

CHELSEA owner Roman Abramovich did not speak a single word to former manager Frank Lampard during his 18 months in charge of the Blues, according to reports.

The Russian oligarch appointed club legend Lampard in the summer of 2019 but the axe fell last week after a run of poor results.

Lampard’s axing was the 14th managerial change of the Russian’s tenure - and among the cheapest as he was paid just £2million in compensation.

The final act of Lampard’s reign 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

And a report in the Telegraph claims Abramovich never personally spoke to Lampard during his year and a half managing the club.

Instead all communication came via his right hand woman Granovskaia, who effectively runs the club for Abramovich.

The report also claims Lampard’s appointment was viewed by many at the West London club as a ‘convenient stopgap’ to keep the fans happy during their transfer ban and the sale of star player Eden Hazard to Real Madrid.

It also claims Lampard, 42, himself thought that was the case.

The Telegraph’s chief football writer Sam Wallace writes: “The early suspicions at the Cobham training ground among Lampard and others that he had always been a convenient stopgap at a difficult time were borne out.

“It is said that Chelsea is a political club but in reality those politics are very simple: Granovskaia tells everyone what to do and then they do it.

“The protégée of Roman Abramovich, who has spent her career running the oligarch’s businesses, appointed Lampard when alternatives were scarce.

“He has not spoken to Abramovich for the duration of his 18 months as manager.”

Wallace also claims that Lampard’s relationship with former teammate Petr Cech, who is now technical director at Chelsea, is strained.

Wallace writes: “In public, Lampard talked up the role of the man alongside whom, as a player, he enjoyed such success.

“In reality, Cech was on the other side of the divide and as a permanent club employee is loyal to Granovskaia.”

The report also says that of Chelsea’s amazing transfer spend of £230million last summer, the only players that Lampard specifically requested were Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell and Hakim Ziyech.

Lampard, who won three Premier League titles and one Champions League as a player at Chelsea, arrived as boss in 2019.

He led the Blues top a top-four finish and an FA Cup final in his first year in charge.

But, after over £230million spent and a dismal run of league form the iconic former midfielder was dismissed.

He leaves Chelsea ninth in the table and is statically the worst manager under the Roman Abramovich era.

Despite the harsh stats and facts, Lampard is still beloved by Chelsea supporters with some fans slamming the decision to sack him.