Frank Lampard hits out at state of Chelsea behind the scenes
By Sean Walsh
Chelsea caretaker manager Frank Lampard has delivered a scathing assessment of the state of the club behind closed doors.
The Blues' miserable 2022/23 season continued with a limp 3-1 loss at Arsenal on Tuesday - a scoreline which flattered the visitors.
Lampard, who was brought in to replace Graham Potter last month, has now lost all six of his matches back at Chelsea. They have dropped to 12th in the Premier League table and could end the week as low as 14th.
Speaking after Tuesday's humbling at the Emirates Stadium, Lampard was critical of not just of the playing squad but the entire club.
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"Chelsea has been a big success for 20 years but at the moment we aren't in that position," Lampard said.
"In the time I've been here it's clear to see behind the scenes, on the training ground, the reasons why. If you're going to be a nice team to play against all the time it doesn't matter where you go. That won't change overnight but we better get there quickly.
"The passive nature of our game you could attribute to many things. The players certainly care. They are low on confidence, but when you play for Chelsea you have to play a certain way even if you are low on confidence.
"Whatever it is, it maybe doesn't even matter because the only thing that will get you out of it is understanding and working hard. The gap was the other way around for many years."
Could Chelsea get relegated?
Though it is unlikely due to the current points gap and the uselessness of the teams fighting against the drop, Chelsea should be safe from relegation this season.
However, the Blues' remaining fixtures mean they could continue to slide down the table.
They travel to Bournemouth on Saturday only sitting ahead of the Cherries on goal difference. They then return to Stamford Bridge to face 18th-placed Nottingham Forest.
And then the gauntlet run begins - Chelsea end the season with games away at Manchester City and Manchester United before rounding off the campaign at home against Newcastle United.