Frank Lampard has become the first manager in the 118-year history of Chelsea to lose each of their first four matches in charge of the club.
The Blues slumped to a two-goal loss at home to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final second leg on Tuesday. It came just six days after they were comprehensively defeated by the same scoreline in the Spanish capital.
Lampard’s opening game of his second stint in charge of the Blues was a one-goal loss away to Wolves in the Premier League – they were firmly second-best at Molineux. He also oversaw Saturday’s defeat at home to Brighton, who outclassed his side at Stamford Bridge.
It isn't the first time the club has lost four games on the bounce in all competitions, as they did so in November 1993. But no boss has ever had a worse start at Chelsea than Lampard.
Tuesday night was the 18th time this campaign they had not scored in a game this season – their highest tally of goalless showings since the 1980-81 campaign.
The pattern of results continues a miserable campaign for Lampard on a personal level. The former England international midfielder was dismissed from his role as Everton manager earlier this season, leaving the Goodison Park club at the bottom of the Premier League standings.
Everton have subsequently appointed Sean Dyche and climbed out of the drop zone on goal difference, but Lampard’s results over his two jobs make for worrying reading. Of his last 17 games in charge across both clubs, he has lost 14 of them – winning just once and drawing twice.
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He is Chelsea’s third manager of the campaign following the dismissals of Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter. The club’s results have been below par for months but have declined further in the past month.
The Blues are now languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League standings and will definitely finish the season trophyless. Their ambitions of qualifying for any European competition next season now appear to be remote.
Lampard is likely to remain in his post in the Stamford Bridge hot seat for the remainder of the campaign, before being replaced by a permanent appointment in the summer. Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique are two names who have been strongly linked to the position.
