Frank Lampard has been warned sacking managers is "in Chelsea's DNA" and he won't get the same time to turn things round as his Premier League rivals.
The Blues boss watched on despairingly as his side were beaten convincingly 3-1 at home to Man City on Sunday as their recent league run stretched to just one win in six games.
Four of those have been defeats, and reports emerging after the match suggest Lampard's job is under serious threat, with Chelsea already considering a managerial change.
While Lampard remained defiant in the face of pressure, Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane believes Chelsea's results need to improve quickly if their boss wishes to avoid the axe.
"Frank will be concerned for what he saw today," Keane told Sky Sports . "Today you’re thinking with the attacking players, I thought they’d put up a performance, but there was a lack of energy.
"When you’re losing a game 3-0 and not putting a tackle in, it’s a huge concern. He’s got senior players out here, players who have won the World Cup, how they didn’t sort it out, making tackles, pulling people in, sitting in. That would be the big concern for me.
"Chelsea don’t give managers time. It’s in their DNA and history not to give them time.
“Frank always comes across well. I didn’t realise the word patience existed at Chelsea, particularly for managers."
Only Jose Mourinho has lasted longer than two years at the helm at Stamford Bridge since the end of his first spell in 2007.
Since then, Mourinho and nine other managers have been dismissed from the post, including some who have won a trophy at the club.
Lampard has still not achieved that, and does not look any closer despite spending over £200million in the summer.
He will have been in the role for two seasons should he reach the end of the current campaign still in charge, but Keane feels the writing could be on the wall.
Should Chelsea replace Lampard as manager? Have your say below.
“I don’t think Frank’s going to get much time. There’s huge pressure this year, you have to give players time to settle coming from foreign countries," Keane added.
“Last year he had a free pass, but they’ve spent money and it brings added pressures, no matter who the manager is.
“Every team has injury problems, he’s got to get ready. When you start questioning work-rate and desire, no matter how good a team you are, you’re going to slip up.
“He’s new to it. He’s 42 years of age. [Jurgen] Klopp came from Dortmund and won big prizes over there. He’s up against all these managers – [Carlo] Ancelotti, Mourinho, [Pep] Guardiola. These guys have got CVs behind them. He won’t get the time Klopp got."
