Frank Lampard has spoken about how grateful he was for the personalised statement made by Roman Abramovich after his Chelsea sacking in January.
Lampard told Jamie Redknapp in the Daily Mail that he was happy that the Russian made a point of highlighting his personal relationship with Lampard.
“I loved that. I could never sit here and say I have anything but appreciation for what he did for my career," says Lampard.
“I was disappointed because I felt we could change things. I saw games coming up as opportunities to get points.
“Your pride takes a hit. There is no doubt about it. That’s human. But with reflection, I would have been absolutely naive to think it would be any different for myself than it had been for managers in the past.
“History says Chelsea make changes and sometimes they have real success off the back of it. It was never for me to go against their model.
“I have full appreciation to Roman for the opportunity. I can only look forward.”
Gary Neville on Frank Lampard
Gary Neville believes that Lampard was part of a cohort of Chelsea players that tried to oust former manager Andre Villas-Boas from his first and only season in charge.
"You can't be surprised at Chelsea. I would go back to that game in Napoli eight or nine years ago, where Villas-Boas had picked a team in the afternoon for the Champions League game.
"I think he left out Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and another big player at that time. I remember the Chelsea players at that time ringing up members of the media trying to get him out - Frank was part of that group.
"It has really been a brutal football club for managers for many, many years and Frank suffered that brutality [when he was fired]. He should be the least surprised - he has been at the club when Villas-Boas was sacked, Scolari, and all the rest of them that have come and gone."
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