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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Josh O'Brien

Frank Lampard 'thankful' to Roman Abramovich and addresses Alisher Usmanov rumours

Frank Lampard has confessed he is "thankful" he was able to play for Chelsea while the Blues were owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.

While the club are currently still owned by the 55-year-old, it is thought he will sell amid the controversy that currently shrouds his reign due to his ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Abramovich helped provide the funds that made Chelsea one of the most successful clubs in recent history, with five Premier League titles and two Champions League the highlights of his honours list.

Lampard was a key figure in a number of title winning sides and was vital in securing one of the Champions League crowns in 2012 as well as a Europa League triumph the following year.

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Frank Lampard won three Premier League titles at Chelsea while under the ownership of Roman Abramovich ((Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC Via Getty Images))

Russia's decision to invade Ukraine has drawn attention to Abramovich's relationship with President Putin and whether it would be appropriate for him to remain the owner of Chelsea.

Though Lampard refused to focus on the speculation over a potential sale, he did explain how he is grateful for Abramovich's support despite the fact Lampard was sacked as Chelsea boss in early 2021.

Currently in charge of Everton, Lampard was speaking before their FA Cup clash with Boreham Wood when he said: "I have no knowledge, I only read what you read.

"I’m not at Chelsea any more, I had an amazing time at Chelsea. If you say you take as you find I can only be very thankful that I was in a period at the club which Roman Abramovich came into and changed the face of it and on the football level was very successful.

"I had absolute support in my time as a player and as a manager whatever people think from the outside.

"I’ve got no comment on them now, I’m Everton manager and I don’t have enough knowledge to give anything more than that."

The situation has followed Lampard to Goodison Park given Everton's ties with another Russian oligarch in Alisher Usmanov.

Frank Lampard has claimed reports of Alisher Usmanov's influence in his Everton job interview are "inaccurate" ((Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images))

A club statement released on Wednesday afternoon confirmed the club had suspended all deals they had with Usmanov's companies.

Everton have long insisted that Usmanov's relationship with the club has been strictly related to commercial matters, but recent reports claimed the Russian was involved in Lampard's job interview.

However, Lampard has declared that was not the case.

"Those reports are inaccurate," said the 43-year-old.

"My interview was with the board, Mr [Farhad] Moshiri, the chairman, Denise the CEO and others but not Mr Usmanov so that is not accurate."

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