Thomas Tuchel spoke exclusively to Sky Sports before Chelsea's trip to rivals Arsenal on Sunday, live from 4pm; head coach revealed he questioned decision to sack Frank Lampard before taking the job and admits last season's Champions League success has "raised the bar"<br /><br />By Vicky Gomersall and Joe Shread<br /><br />Sunday 22 August 2021 09:56, UK<br /><br />Thomas Tuchel has admitted that, before replacing Frank Lampard as head coach, he asked Chelsea's board if they were sure about sacking the club's record goal-scorer due to his legendary status at Stamford Bridge.<br /><br />Lampard - who won 11 major trophies as a player at Chelsea - was sacked in January after 18 months in charge and succeeded by Tuchel, who had recently left Paris Saint-Germain.<br /><br />Despite his side's patchy form in the weeks leading up to his departure, Lampard had led Chelsea to the Champions League knockout stages on two occasions, as well as a top-four Premier League finish and an FA Cup final during his time in charge.<br /><br />In an exclusive interview ahead of Chelsea's trip to rivals Arsenal on Sunday - live on Sky Sports - Tuchel admits Lampard's achievements as both a player and manager led even him to question whether sacking the former Derby boss was the right decision.<br /><br />Tuchel revealed: "I actually said to the board, 'are you sure of doing this? Because they will not like you. Maybe he deserves more time.' Because when I think of Chelsea I think about Frank Lampard, John Terry, Petr Cech, Didier Drogba.<br /><br />"I think about him in the very first moment because he embodies everything that Chelsea is: hard work, aggressive player, big leader but at the same time a normal guy on the pitch and such a team player. A true, true legend.<br /><br />"But I clearly understood the choice was more or less made and it was take it or leave it. Then I hoped for a fair chance with the players because when you step in, there is not everybody happy from 20, 22 players.<br /><br />"You cannot expect everybody to be happy with the manager gone, especially because he had a good [Champions League] group stage, good results, good performances and sometimes he was also simply unlucky, with what the data showed to us.<br /><br />"But I said very early, 'listen guys, I did not push him out. I am just here now to continue in my way and let's try to be open and give us a chance together.'<br /><br />"I'm in a top club with fantastic support, super organised and strong group on the field. It's a pleasure to work every day and it's like this since day one."<br /><br />In hindsight, Tuchel may not have questioned the Chelsea board's decision, as the German went on to guide his new team to Champions League glory just four months after taking charge.<br /><br />Source:<br />https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12387048/thomas-tuchel-says-he-asked-chelsea-board-if-they-were-sure-about-sacking-legend-frank-lampard
