Published: April 23, 2021 4:49 pm
Last Updated: April 23, 2021 4:55 pm
The Chelsea faithful have clashed on social media on Friday, on the back of comments made by midfielder Jorginho regarding former boss Frank Lampard.
Pensioners spell
Lampard’s hit-and-miss stint in charge at Stamford Bridge was of course brought to an end this past January.
The Englishman was handed the reins at his one-time club despite a serious lack of experience, having previously seen out just a solitary campaign in management, in the Championship with Derby County.
In turn, a bumpy road was widely predicted, and indeed went on to follow.
Lampard’s debut season on the bench in west London proved relatively successful, culminating in a top-4 Premier League finish and a trip to the FA Cup final.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 03: Frank Lampard, Manager of Chelsea looks on during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on January 03, 2021 in London, England. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
However, on the back of a major summer spending spree, which saw the likes of Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell and Kai Havertz arrive in the capital, Lampard subsequently struggled to get the best out of an evidently talented Chelsea outfit this time around.
In turn, as a top-4 berth began to slip further and further from the grasp of the Blues under their long-time midfielder, the decision was eventually made late in January for Lampard to be moved on.
Jorgi splits fans
The call to part ways with the Englishman unsurprisingly sparked swift debate, with Lampard of course representing a beloved figure at Stamford Bridge.
Large sections of the club’s fanbase felt as though the 42-year-old should have been given more time to prove himself, with the move to bring in Thomas Tuchel having been a hasty one.
Evidently not of such an opinion, however, is one of the Pensioners’ current stars.
The player in question? Jorginho.
Speaking in an interview with ESPN Brasil on Friday, midfielder Jorginho was drawn on his time under Lampard in the English capital.
And the former Napoli man, as is generally the case, opted for complete honesty, in revealing his belief that ‘Lamps’ was simply handed the reins too soon, and therefore ‘wasn’t ready’ for the job:
“He skipped some steps necessary for learning before moving to a big club… I think he came too soon and wasn’t ready for a job at this level, to be honest.” [ESPN Brasil]
Jorginho doesn’t think Frank Lampard was ready to be Chelsea boss pic.twitter.com/28CFjauBRh
— Goal (@goal) April 23, 2021
In turn, it has since come as little surprise to see those to have backed Lampard lash out at their midfield conductor, with Jorginho’s comments having been construed by many as something of a dig:
Rich coming from him considering he’s not Chelsea level and has to have a whole system around him to stop him getting exposed
Why would u even say this? He complains about fans hating on him but then has a dig at one of our biggest ever legends ♂️
— Chris O’Flynn (@ChrisOflynn4) April 23, 2021
why is he doing this to himself? does he want the fans to dislike him?
— @ (@tengasam) April 23, 2021
yea shut up
— astrid (@hazardsglrl) April 23, 2021
Just as Jorginho was starting to really win people over… ♂️
— Adam Newson (@AdamNewson) April 23, 2021
the disrespect man
— brobo (@UuuuAyam) April 23, 2021
He keep disrespecting our Legend and and we’re gonna give him pure hate because he can’t even perform on the pitch. He is too average to be talking like that. He is our most easily replaceable player.
— Unbearable Mammal (@UnbearableMaml1) April 23, 2021
Doesn’t matter if he’s right or wrong, he shouldn’t have said it.
— Kyle (@CFC_Barryyy) April 23, 2021
Others of a Chelsea persuasion, though, have hit back at such insinuations, insisting that Jorginho was perfectly entitled to speak his truth:
Chelsea fans saying Jorginho didn’t need to say anything about Lampard in his interview. Chelsea fans also didn’t need to boo Jorginho because they didn’t like Sarri either
Everyone’s always like let people share their opinions till it’s an opinion that doesn’t suit them.. ♂️
— Conn (@ConnCFC) April 23, 2021
Frank Lampard worshippers getting unnecessary sentimental about Jorginho’s honesty is very laughable.
Lampard’s inexperience influenced his decisions and there is nothing bad in learning
— ekunDAYO⚡ (@Fortis_OWO) April 23, 2021
He’s spot on as it gets, but of course there will be backlash as it’s him saying it
— . (@branojr) April 23, 2021
He isn’t wrong and i love lampard.
Please don’t make it as hating content.
— ᴘᴀʀᴛʜ (@aeslehcfc) April 23, 2021
Jorginho spitting facts
— Ghost of Damien Duff (@CFCJeremy1905) April 23, 2021
Very nice to see that a player can speak honestly and respectfully without having to sugarcoat anything. I think he’s spot on. Doesn’t change that Lampard is a legend at the club but I hope he can learn and become a top manager. He has time on his side well said Jorginho! https://t.co/NwRQgXnYC5
— Younes H-Hamou (@youneshh) April 23, 2021
Every Chelsea fan has said the job came to soon for frank but because it’s Jorginho he’s going to get hate
— Gio (@Gioreyna14) April 23, 2021
Cold, hard facts.
— Pys (@CFCPys) April 23, 2021
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester City FC | 33 | 45 | 77 |
| 2 | Manchester United FC | 32 | 29 | 66 |
| 3 | Leicester City FC | 32 | 21 | 59 |
| 4 | Chelsea FC | 32 | 19 | 55 |
| 5 | West Ham United FC | 32 | 11 | 55 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 33 | 18 | 53 |
| 7 | Liverpool FC | 32 | 16 | 53 |
| 8 | Everton FC | 31 | 3 | 49 |
| 9 | Arsenal FC | 32 | 8 | 46 |
| 10 | Leeds United | 32 | 0 | 46 |
| 11 | Aston Villa FC | 31 | 9 | 44 |
| 12 | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 32 | -9 | 41 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace FC | 31 | -19 | 38 |
| 14 | Southampton FC | 32 | -18 | 36 |
| 15 | Newcastle United FC | 32 | -18 | 35 |
| 16 | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 32 | -5 | 34 |
| 17 | Burnley FC | 32 | -19 | 33 |
| 18 | Fulham FC | 33 | -18 | 27 |
| 19 | West Bromwich Albion | 32 | -34 | 24 |
| 20 | Sheffield United FC | 32 | -39 | 14 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 21 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 19 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 16 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 15 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 14 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 14 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 13 |
| Lacazette, Alexandre | Arsenal FC | 13 |
| Watkins, Ollie | Aston Villa FC | 12 |
| Gundogan, Ilkay | Manchester City FC | 12 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 10 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United FC | 10 |
| Ings, Danny | Southampton FC | 10 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 9 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City FC | 9 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester City FC | 9 |
| Lingard, Jesse | West Ham United FC | 9 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace FC | 9 |
| Aubameyang, Pierre-Emerick | Arsenal FC | 9 |
| Soucek, Tomas | West Ham United FC | 9 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maguire, Harry | Manchester United FC | 0 | 9 |
| Lundstram, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 8 |
| Gallagher, Conor | West Bromwich Albion | 0 | 8 |
| Bellerin, Hector | Arsenal FC | 0 | 8 |
| Milivojevic, Luka | Crystal Palace FC | 1 | 7 |
| Luiz, Douglas | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 7 |
| Holgate, Mason | Everton FC | 0 | 8 |
| Hayden, Isaac | Newcastle United FC | 0 | 8 |
| Soucek, Tomas | West Ham United FC | 1 | 6 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 7 |
| Shaw, Luke | Manchester United FC | 0 | 7 |
| Neves, Ruben | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 0 | 7 |
| Reid, Bobby | Fulham FC | 0 | 7 |
| Hojbjerg, Pierre | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 0 | 7 |
| Xhaka, Granit | Arsenal FC | 1 | 6 |
| Evans, Jonny | Leicester City FC | 0 | 7 |
| Andersen, Joachim | Fulham FC | 1 | 6 |
| Phillips, Kalvin | Leeds United | 0 | 7 |
| Cash, Matty | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 6 |
| Egan, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 6 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 13 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 11 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 10 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City FC | 10 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 9 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 8 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 7 |
| Cresswell, Aaron | West Ham United FC | 7 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 6 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 6 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 6 |
| Pereira, Matheus | West Bromwich Albion | 6 |
| Ward-Prowse, James | Southampton FC | 6 |
| Harrison, Jack | Leeds United | 6 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 6 |
| Werner, Timo | Chelsea FC | 6 |
| Neto, Pedro | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 6 |
| Gross, Pascal | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 6 |
| Silva, Bernardo | Manchester City FC | 6 |
| Digne, Lucas | Everton FC | 6 |
