Topics: Chelsea, Frank Lampard, Antonio Rudiger, Matteo Kovacic
Supporters of the London club have expressed displeasure with the pair for an alleged role they played in Lampard's dismissal.

Fans of Chelsea Football Club have turned on Antonio Rudiger and Matteo Kovacic on social media for an alleged role the pair played in the dismissal of manager Frank Lampard. A report that emerged on Monday revealed that the two players 'went directly to the board' to talk about the club legend, an act many believe to be undermining, disrespectful and unhealthy for the dressing room.

Barely 24 hours after qualifying to the fifth round of the FA Cup at expense of Championship club Luton Town, Chelsea issued a communique indicating the termination of Lampard's contract as their manager. The 42-year-old English manager had been under scrutiny in recent weeks with his side underperforming massively despite last summer's heavy investment in recruitment. The failure of the former Blues midfielder is said to have angered the club's hierarchy including owner Roman Abramovich with the team currently sitting in ninth position in the Premier League - 11 points adrift of leaders Manchester United.

Former Paris Saint-Germain head coach Thomas Tuchel has since been tipped to take over the reins although Monday's revelation suggests that he would have to fix a broken dressing room before the results may trickle in at Chelsea. In an extraordinary claim on talkSports by pundit Danny Murphy, player power and disloyalty were the driving forces behind Frank Lampard's dismissal.

According to him Antonio Rudiger, who has featured in just four of Chelsea's Premier League games this season, and the habitually used Matteo Kovacic, broke protocol and spoke to the club's board about their manager. This comes against a backdrop of a recent speculation of a multiple clashes between Rudiger and club captain Cesar Azpilicueta, as well as the ill-treatment of some academy graduates by some seniors at the club.

Fans of Chelsea have since taken to social media to slam the actions of the two stars, with many citing the implication of the dissonance existing in the side. Below are a few reactions: