An ex-assistant reveals a former Chelsea star's shock at being isolated from Roman Abramovich, detailing a surprising power dynamic during his managerial tenure.
Lampard is one of Chelsea's iconic players, second only to John Terry in terms of Premier League appearances for the London club. After retiring in 2014, he returned to Stamford Bridge in 2019 to replace Maurizio Sarri, with the expectation of leading the club through a difficult period.
However, according to Morris, who followed Lampard from Derby County to Chelsea, most of the operational activities during that period were handled primarily by director Marina Granovskaia.
Speaking on the "All Out Football" podcast, Morris stated, "Frank didn't have any conversations with Roman Abramovich during his time as coach. Yes, he had them as a player, but when he returned as coach, they didn't communicate at all, even though Frank wanted to."
In fact, even when Lampard was fired in January 2021, many sources suggested that Granovskaia was the figure wielding significant power within the club's senior management structure.
Professionally, Lampard led Chelsea to fourth place and the FA Cup final in his first season. However, a sharp decline in performance the following season led to his departure. This story once again highlights the significant power gap between the coaching bench and the Chelsea hierarchy during the Abramovich era.
Lampard cemented his status as Chelsea's all-time leading scorer by recording 211 goals in 648 appearances between 2001 and 2014, becoming the most prolific midfielder of his era.
Under Jose Mourinho, he was the engine of the team that won the institution's first consecutive league titles in 50 years, serving as the backbone of a golden era that culminated in winning the Champions League in 2012 and the Europa League in 2013 as captain and midfield leader.
After his retirement, Lampard returned to Stamford Bridge in 2019 as head coach, guiding the team to the Champions League and the FA Cup final in his first season at the helm of a youthful squad.
Although he was fired two years later, his legacy as a player was recognized in 2023 with the unveiling of a statue in his honor outside the stadium, thereby sealing his unparalleled impact both on the field and on the London club's historical identity.
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