Why Thomas Tuchel needs quick start to get Chelsea fans on his side

Chelsea club legend Frank Lampard was ruthlessly sacked on January 25. Reports claim following a 30 minute meeting with director Marina Granovskaia and chairman Bruce Buck, he wasn’t even allowed to say his goodbyes to his players.

If that’s the case, it was a fairly unceremonious way of relieving Lampard of his duties to say the least. And it’s a decision a large number of fans have not been best pleased about.

It was supposed to be different this time. Lampard was appointed as head coach of Chelsea back in July 2019, when the club was under a transfer embargo, and he was brought in to help build a longer term project of promoting youth through the ranks, while keeping the Blues fairly competitive.

And he did just that in his first, and only, full season – giving the likes of Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham regular starts in his matchday squads, while still achieving qualification for the Champions League and an FA Cup run to the final at Wembley.

But as soon as Chelsea were able to buy players again, it seemed that philosophy was all but forgotten. The big spending was aimed to propel us to compete at the top of the Premier League, building on strong foundations, but it served to create cracks for Lampard, trying to balance everyone’s interests; promoting youth while keeping the new mega-money signings happy and involved.

It seems the long-term project didn’t matter to the hierarchy anymore. They wanted instant success after a summer of spending. But it still did to Lampard.

That’s why it seems fans have been angry at Lampard’s sacking. Yes, the club has been on a bad run, but to cast aside a man who jumped at the chance to lead the club he loved, while himself being inexperienced in that role, at a time when we could not strengthen, was always going to leave a sour taste in the mouth. Especially when he’s been sacked at the first sign of a wobble, and had a clear vision of what he wanted to achieve. And that’s even before you factor in the fact that he’s Frank Lampard.

Instagram account @footballawaydayinsta posted a picture of flares being let off near Stamford Bridge, underneath a banner which reads “circus continues”. It was posted on the day Chelsea drew 0-0 with Wolves, Tuchel’s first game in charge as head coach. A strong message from a section of disgruntled fans.

It looks like some have lost patience in Chelsea’s approach to hiring and firing head coaches and managers so quickly. Especially when the promise of longer term stability and being able to compete consistently at the top under a developed regime has been cut down – again.

New head coach Tuchel is enthusiastic at the chance to lead Chelsea to glory, as any new head coach or manager would be. He did acknowledge how fans were feeling in the pre-match press conference ahead of the Burnley game and addressed the shadow of Lampard, but the talking needs to be done on the pitch. That’s why he’s been hired after all.

We’re still not able to see our beloved Blues play, and contrary to what anyone else says, it’s the fans that make football. Maybe Tuchel would’ve had a harder time of it in the dugout on Wednesday with fans angry at Lampard’s dismissal, especially with the “In Lampard We Trust” banners still out in force, but Tuchel should use this opportunity to show what he’s all about to get the feeling the fans are with him when we can return again.

The best way to get that in motion? Start with a good run. The first game against Wolves was always going to be difficult, especially after taking just one training session beforehand. Tottenham game aside, the Blues have a run of winnable fixtures in the next five games in all competitions, including Sheffield United, Barnsley and Newcastle United.

Utilize that, work hard with the players on the training pitch, propel us up the Premier League and reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup ahead of the Champions League starting back up, then fans will be licking their lips at what’s to come next under the new head coach.

A strong run of results from the next few games would help fans move on from Lampard.