Jorginho: Lampard skipped some steps, wasn't ready to coach Chelsea

Chelsea midfielder Jorginho doesn't believe Frank Lampard was quite ready for the job when he assumed the reins at Stamford Bridge.

Lampard, a club icon from his playing days, became Chelsea manager in 2019, replacing Maurizio Sarri. He led the Blues to a top-four finish and an appearance in the FA Cup final in his first season.

But after a summer spending spree lavished him with an enviable array of attacking talent, Lampard struggled to strike the right balance this term, which ultimately led to his firing in January.

Jorginho, who didn't feature regularly this campaign under Lampard, thinks the Englishman needed more experience before taking the high-pressure gig.

"Look, I'll be really sincere here on Lampard. I believe, given he was a legend at the club, he skipped some steps necessary for learning before moving to a big club," the 29-year-old said in an interview with ESPN Brasil.

"He came to a club where he is a legend, without having experience at other clubs. I think he came too soon, skipped a few steps ahead and wasn't ready for a job at this level, to be honest."

Lampard spent one season as manager of second-tier Derby County before making the leap to Chelsea. He guided the Rams to the promotion playoff final, where they lost to Aston Villa.

Since replacing Lampard, Thomas Tuchel has led the Blues to the Champions League semifinals, while also getting them in the thick of the Premier League's top-four race.