Frank Lampard makes statement following Chelsea dismissal

Frank Lampard has broken his silence on his dismissal from Chelsea, issuing an emotional statement on Instagram that expressed his disappointment at having been relieved of his duties.

Lampard was let go after a poor first half of the season left the Blues languishing in mid-table, though the timing seemed strange - the news came less than 24 hours after they reached the FA Cup round of 16.

A report in The Telegraph even claimed that the Chelsea players were not made aware of the manager's departure until after it had already broken in the press, and many fans and pundits have spoke out in support of the departing boss, who is set to be replaced by Thomas Tuchel.

But Lampard was graceful in his first statement since leaving, as he said on Instagram: "It has been a huge privilege and an honour to manage Chelsea, a club that has been a big part of my life for so long. Firstly, I would like to thank the fans for the incredible support that I have received over the last 18 months. I hope they know what that means to me.

"When I took on this role I understood the challenges that lay ahead in a difficult time for the football club. I am proud of the achievements that we made, and I am proud of the academy players that have made their step into the first team and performed so well. They are the future of the club.

"I am disappointed not to have had the time this season to take the club forward and bring it to the next level.

"I want to thank Mr Abramovich, the board, players, my coaching team and everyone at the club for their hard work and dedication, especially in these unprecedented and challenging times. I wish the team and the club every success for the future."