CHELSEA fans ripped into interim boss Frank Lampard after his comments about young star Carney Chukwuemeka.
The Blues have lost seven of their nine games since the Blues’ record scorer took over from Graham Potter at the beginning of April.
Frank Lampard benched Carney Chukwuemeka on SundayAP
Chukwuemeka only came on in the 81st minuteGetty
The latest of those came in another insipid display on Sunday as Manchester City celebrated clinching the Premier League title with a comfortable 1-0 win at the Etihad.
It leaves Chelsea in 12th place with two tough games remaining against Manchester United and Newcastle.
Given the circumstances, Blues supporters were baffled as to why talented 19-year-old midfielder Chukwuemeka was left on the bench until the 81st minute.
Earlier this week, Chelsea refused to release him to be a part of England’s U20 World Cup squad as it clashed with the end of the domestic season.
When asked about not putting him on until the latter stages, Lampard, who is only in charge until Mauricio Pochettino takes over in the summer, said: “You’ve got to wait your time and have to understand.
“I want to get him minutes but I have to think about my job. I thought he did well when he came on.”
This is not a response that Chelsea fans have taken kindly to.
Reacting on social media, one said: “ what job. This is exactly what I was worried about. He’s busy trying to scrap out results that make him look better than actually develop the team for next season.”
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Another added: “Job? 7 defeats, 1 draw, and 1 win since he took charge of the club. What job are we talking about here?”
A third replied: “Think about my job you’ve lost virtually every game mate, this guy isn’t serious.”
And a fourth responded: “F***ing hell, he has zero self-awareness.”
Chukwuemeka’s substitute appearance at the Etihad was his first minutes since Lampard returned to Chelsea.
He had not been included in Lampard’s previous eight squads.
The teenager, who joined on a six-year deal from Aston Villa in the summer, has made 13 appearances for the Blues this season.