Frank Lampard issued a stark warning to incoming Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochetinno after a humiliating night for the interim boss at Old Trafford.
After a run of just one win in nine games since Lampard took caretaker charge back in April, the Blues were out to halt Manchester United's quest for a top four finish on Thursday night. But despite missing glorious first-half chances through Mykhaylo Mudryk and Kai Havertz, the visitors were blown away as Erik ten Hag's men ran riot.
First-half goals from Casemiro and Anthony Martial were supplemented after the break by a Bruno Fernandes penalty and Marcus Rashford's late strike. A solo effort from Joao Felix before the final whistle failed to mask Chelsea's latest horror show, leaving the side 12th in the Premier League table going into the final day.
Indeed, the task ahead of Pochetinno this summer appears more sizeable by the week. And speaking after the match, a seemingly furious Lampard had a reality check for his successor as he outlined the need to elevate the club on all fronts.
“It's a bad year for the club. The important thing is you get to the bottom of how it improves," he said. "It needs a rebuild, the club will move on in the summer in terms of the squad. Things need to improve to get to the level."
However, the 44-year-old stopped short of offering any advice to the Argentinian, adding: "To come in without a pre-season and assess, it's probably not my time to give my opinions. It'll be someone else's decisions and a pre-season and start and look will be imperative."
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Despite the lavish spending of owner Todd Boehly, Chelsea are on track for their worst top-flight finish since the 1993/94 season, when they finished 14th under Glen Hoddle.
And ahead of a tough home game with Newcastle on the final day, Lampard was defiant about his second spell in charge.
Indeed, he insisted his affiliation with Stamford Bridge, where he remains record goalscorer and an icon as a player, hadn't been affected. "I love working for this club and that's not changed from the moment I've been here." he said.
