There’s been no love lost between West Ham United fans and Chelsea legend Frank Lampard over the years.
Frank Lampard in his West Ham days
Hammers fans love to hate Lampard for often misunderstood reasons.
Loathed by the vast majority of the club’s supporters during his playing career after leaving West Ham, Lampard’s situation is a huge bone of contention for fans who feel their reasons for disliking him have been misconstrued by the media and rival fans over the years.
While suggestions of nepotism when Lampard was an emerging talent were regrettable, Lampard was no saint in the bitter relationship.
The retired former England star was a massive West Ham fan as a kid, watching his dad, Frank Senior, carve out legend status at the club.
But the relationship between Lampard and the then Upton Park faithful turned sour when he was sold to London rivals Chelsea and claimed he was not liked by supporters.
Lampard went on to criticise the club and its fans on numerous occasions and received abuse from the terraces whenever the two clubs met.
The fact he would invariably kiss the Chelsea badge to antagonise them further when he inevitably scored against his old side did not help matters, nor did the proclamation that he is Chelsea’s biggest fan.
And he could not resist another dig at his boyhood club when appearing as a guest on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football after Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Slaven Bilic’s side at the London Stadium.
Lampard became a Chelsea legend
Taking part in a Q&A, Lampard was asked which London club he most enjoyed beating.
And before the presenter could finish the sentence Lampard was ready to bite.
“West Ham,” he said without hesitation on MNF.
“Listen I’m a lot older and more mature now and at times when I left there I was probably angry and West Ham fans were angry with me.
“Those things settle down but at times that was the game that I would really get up for on a personal note.”
West Ham fans
It will perhaps come as no surprise to Hammers fans but proves they were right about him all along.
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