Former Liverpool youngster Andre Wisdom has slammed Frank Lampard's man-management during their time together at Derby County in 2019.
Wisdom, who moved to Liverpool as a teenager and later progressed through the Reds' academy ranks before being handed his Premier League debut by Brendan Rodgers in 2012, enjoyed two spells at the then-Championship outfit with the club reaching the play-off finals on two occasions.
However, after being stabbed after attending a house party in Toxteth during the summer of 2020, the 29-year-old struggled to return to his prior fitness levels and was later released by the Rams upon the expiration of his contract in June 2021.
READ MORE: James Milner to leave Liverpool for Brighton as glittering Anfield career draws to a close
READ MORE: Liverpool new home shirt price going up to almost £75 as club explain rise in kit costs
Speaking to The Beautiful Game Podcast, Wisdom lifted the lid on what it was like to work under Lampard, who was sacked by Everton in January with the Blues in the Premier League's bottom three. Just weeks later, the 44-year-old made a sensational return to Stamford Bridge to become Chelsea's interim boss; a job which he first received off the back of his impressive 2018-2019 campaign at Derby County.
"My experience was weird," said Wisdom of working with Lampard, who he played just 13 times under. "It didn't feel like I was at football. I think what kind of threw me was the fact it was Frank Lampard. I don't want it to be misinterpreted but it was not like I was in awe.
"I think I expected something that I wasn't getting. I just expected more from him as a man. We had a good team as well so it's easy [to manage players] when everything is going well.
"We got to the final [of the play-offs] and lost against Aston Villa. But I think it was cliquey. It felt like there was people speaking behind other people's backs.
"I remember in pre-season some of the lads came back late or something and the next day we were all running for it. I understand the message, but it just felt very negative. Like I said, I've had one manager scream at me during my career and it was Lampard."
Providing further detail on the incident, Wisdom, added: "I didn't react. We got smashed 4-0 by Aston Villa (in a Championship game) and I said some comments after the game, and he just went in.
"It was nothing to do really with football. It was more about me as a person which was very strange to me. He said some things that were just very strange. You know when someone says to you, 'They're not scared of you'.
"He said I bully people. I know this might sound egotistical but if you ask anybody they will say, 'Nah, Andre is cool'. As a player, he was a don. We just didn't click."
Asked if he was surprised his former manager had been appointed as Graham Potter's short-term successor at Stamford Bridge, Wisdom insisted he holds no bad feelings towards Lampard but stressed he would not interact with him if the two were to ever cross paths again.
"His job is his job, all the best to him," added Wisdom, who has been without a club since leaving the East Midlands outfit in 2021. "I don't have no bad vibes to him.
"If he was sat here would I speak to him? Nah. What is the other guy called? Jody Morris. I just didn't rate them. They're just not my type of people. On a night out I'd probably get into a fight with them."
READ NEXT:
Liverpool find their game-changer but Jurgen Klopp may have hinted at transfer surprises
What Jurgen Klopp called Darwin Nunez after Liverpool win over Fulham
Michael Owen left 'screaming at the television' over Liverpool transfer calls
Liverpool dream line-up next season with Manuel Ugarte and three more big transfers
National media raise Luis Diaz question as Mohamed Salah has new 'mission' at Liverpool
