Frank Lampard doesn’t condemn Chelsea fans for Rafa treatment

In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Frank Lampard talked about the fans’ treatment of Rafa, his Chelsea career and the uncertainties that surrounded it this season as well as Chelsea’s European triumphs as of late.
The interim boss was repeatedly booed and barracked after taking charge of the club in November.
But Lampard says he can understand why the ex-Liverpool manager’s past comments, that were critical of the Blues, had riled supporters.
The Stamford Bridge legend explained: “We know the situation of the manager.
“He was the manager of a rival team and things were said — so there’s that element to it.
“And I’m not one to take away the right of a man to feel how he feels. They are human beings, the fans.
“I hear people from the outside say Chelsea fans made it difficult — I don’t think they have.
“This was a very particular occasion and Chelsea fans have the right to do what they want.”
The fans also feared Lampard, 34, could be heading for the exit door following rumours that talks over a new contract had stalled in the New Year.
And the fans made their views on that unthinkable prospect known loud and clear at every game, at every opportunity.
Lampard added: “Their support this season meant a huge amount, they have been absolutely massive for me.
“I’m very fortunate to have a great relationship with our fans and I have had that all along here. There’s nothing better.
“There are moments when you’re sitting on the bench or you’re not in the team or you are injured — the lift from your own fans really does give you a leg-up.
“And I will never forget how they have been in this period, supporting me. It has been amazing. It means everything.”
The England star then revealed just how close he’d come to leaving.
He recalled: “I was quite close in January to thinking it was the end for me at Chelsea. I’d been injured, the manager had changed. It was an uncertain period.
“I’d had a couple of conversations with the club and I did think I might be leaving then.
“I didn’t want to leave. I’d let everyone know, I’d made it clear — without sounding desperate — that I wanted to stay at the football club.
“But after that, only your football can do the talking.
“I just thought ‘If I keep playing well and keep trying to contribute then hopefully something will happen.’ And we got there!”
Lampard’s ready smile now disguises the true emotion of that moment when he knew he would be staying after all.
He confessed the overriding feeling was one of relief and said: “It was absolutely fantastic. A real weight had been lifted off my shoulders. It’s been a hard season though.
“It was tough when Robbie (Di Matteo) got sacked. The team was in bad form and then we went and lost the Club World Championship. At that stage you are thinking it’s a bit of a waste.
“We had won the Champions League the season before.
“Now we had lost the European Super Cup when we didn’t turn up and then we went to Japan and lost again.
“I thought we were letting ourselves down and not capitalising on those opportunities.
“But I never felt it was too dark a situation — I believe in the lads here and I always believed there was another thing to go for.
“And in the end we won the Europa League and qualified for the Champions League again for next season, which is huge.”
Lampard can laugh about it now but it took all of his famed mental strength and his years of experience for him to come through.
For just as the Chelsea team were battling to get back on track, he had his own personal challenge to deal with and overcome. His 12 trophy-laden years in SW6 looked to be coming to a close and the interim one’s rotation policy saw the midfielder in and out of the team.
And every game that went by meant there was one less game for him to overhaul 1960s hero Bobby Tambling’s record of 202 goals for the club.
Could he make it before his Blues career came to a close?
We all know the answer now, and we all know Lampard is not going anywhere now, either.
But the pressure was on and in the midst of yet more turmoil at the top at the Bridge.
Lampard added: “Last year we had a change of manager in mid-season too, so the experience of that makes it easier to deal with every time.
“On top of that we have good professionals at the club and as a player you have to concentrate on your game.
“It doesn’t matter if a new manager comes in… if the old manager likes you or didn’t, if the new manager does or doesn’t or whether the fans are upset with the manager.
“That’s all the sideshow to what you do as an individual.
“You have to see the bigger picture and try to win things in the end. And we have.”
Not only that, Lampard broke Tambling’s record, a brace at Villa Park in the penultimate match taking him to 203 Chelsea goals — the best-ever in the club’s 108-year history.
Lampard said: “This season has been incredible. For me personally, I didn’t know what I might be doing in the future.
“For the team, the season was one of those — were we going to make the Champions League, were we going to win anything?
“And at a club like this that’s a failure. But now we’ve ended with an amazingly positive week.
“We finished in the Champions League, we’ve won the Europa League and I’ve got the record. What a great way to finish it.”
Only one way to describe it — fantastic!