In an exclusive interview with a leading sports outlet, Lampard, who enjoyed two spells in charge at Stamford Bridge and remains one of the club’s most revered figures, did not mince his words when discussing the chaotic events that led to Maresca’s departure on New Year’s Day 2026. After guiding Chelsea to the UEFA Conference League title in 2025 and the FIFA Club World Cup just months later, Maresca’s 18-month tenure ended abruptly amid a sharp decline in Premier League form, internal disputes, and a complete breakdown in relations with the club’s hierarchy.
Lampard, speaking candidly for the first time since the Italian’s exit, suggested that the problems ran far deeper than poor results or tactical disagreements. “You shouldn’t trust him…” Lampard began, before pausing for effect. He went on to allege that a specific senior player—widely understood from context to be a high-profile midfielder who has been a mainstay in the squad since before Maresca’s arrival—played a pivotal role in undermining the manager’s authority and contributing to the toxic atmosphere that ultimately forced the change.
According to Lampard, this player allegedly fostered divisions within the dressing room, resisted Maresca’s innovative possession-based philosophy, and even influenced key decisions around team selection and training methods through informal channels to the board. “I’ve seen it before in football—when a player gets too comfortable, too powerful, they can start pulling strings behind the scenes,” Lampard explained. “Enzo came in with a clear vision, fresh ideas from his time under Pep [Guardiola], and he won trophies doing it. But when one or two individuals decide they don’t like the direction, they can make life impossible for any manager, no matter how talented.”
The Chelsea icon pointed to a series of incidents in late 2025 that he believes escalated the situation. These included public cryptic comments from Maresca about the club’s “worst 48 hours” (later revealed to stem from clashes with the medical department over player management), repeated reports of dressing-room unrest, and a string of inconsistent performances that saw Chelsea drop points in winnable games. Lampard claimed the player in question was central to complaints about workload, rotation policies, and even tactical instructions, which reportedly reached the ears of owners BlueCo and sporting directors.
“Results were dipping, yes, but that’s football—form comes and goes,” Lampard continued. “The real poison was the lack of unity. Enzo was fighting on two fronts: on the pitch against top opposition, and off it against egos that thought they knew better. This particular player had the ear of people higher up, and that eroded trust. Managers get sacked for many reasons, but when a key player becomes untouchable and starts acting like the de facto boss, it’s a recipe for disaster.”
Lampard’s comments come at a time when Chelsea are still searching for stability under their new managerial setup following Maresca’s exit. The Italian’s departure was framed officially as a “parting of ways” to give the team the “best chance of getting the season back on track,” but sources close to the club have described it as a mutual decision born out of irreconcilable differences. Maresca had reportedly held talks with Manchester City regarding a potential return to his former club as Pep Guardiola’s successor, which further strained relations.
Fans have reacted with a mix of shock and vindication to Lampard’s intervention. Many on social media platforms have long speculated about dressing-room power dynamics at Stamford Bridge, especially given the club’s heavy investment in young talent and the rapid turnover of managers since the 2022 takeover. “Finally someone says it,” one supporter posted. “We’ve had too many players running the show for years.”
Lampard, who has been linked sporadically with a sensational third return to the dugout, stopped short of naming the player directly but made his position clear: “Chelsea is bigger than any one individual. The club needs leaders who buy into the project, not ones who sabotage it when things get tough. Enzo deserved better, and until that changes, these cycles will keep repeating.”
As Chelsea prepare for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign—still chasing Champions League qualification and competing in multiple cups—these explosive claims from a true Blues legend add fresh fuel to the fire. Whether Lampard’s warning leads to internal reviews or player movements remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the shadow cast by Maresca’s sacking continues to loom large over Stamford Bridge.
