Steven Gerrard was "gutted" to see Chelsea sack Frank Lampard and has hit out at the Blues for not giving their managers time.
During their playing careers, Rangers boss Gerrard was a team-mate of Lampard for England as well as a Premier League rival as the two battled it out with Liverpool and Chelsea.
He felt Chelsea had the opportunity to be different this time by offering their former star player support during a difficult period, the Blues having slumped to ninth in the table.
But ultimately Gerrard was not surprised to see owner Roman Abramovich wield the axe on Monday.
"I did think it was an opportunity for Chelsea to really reach out and support him during this tough period rather than do what they have done," Gerrard said when asked about Lampard's sacking.
"But Chelsea have got history for that so it was no surprise."
Gerrard believes Lampard, who was previously in charge of Championship outfit Derby County, will make a prompt return to management.
He added: "Obviously I'm gutted for Frank, he's an ex-team-mate of mine, someone I respect greatly.
"But knowing the guy, he will be back in no time. He will dust himself down and get back involved.
"He will use this time to spend with his family. He's obviously got a young family and one on the way.
"I'm disappointed for him. I thought it was a very swift exit on the back of a positive result at the weekend [a 3-1 FA Cup win over Luton Town on Sunday].
"But I don't know the details. I don't know how it's been for him, I don't know the relationships that he's had inside the club."
Former Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel is poised to replace Lampard at Stamford Bridge.
Gerrard, meanwhile, is closing in on a first Scottish Premiership title and has also led Rangers into the Europa League knockout stages.
Barry's move from Chelsea to Bayern faces delay due to potential Champions league tie
Graham Potter confirmed that Chelsea and Bayern Munich are in talks over assistant coach Anthony Barry.
However, a potential switch from London to Munich might well be delayed until a potential Champions League meeting between the sides.
Thomas Tuchel, who was appointed as Bayern coach after the sacking of Julian Nagelsmann last week, worked with Barry during his time at Chelsea and is keen to get the 36-year-old on his staff.
Barry is away from the Chelsea training ground while negotiations take place but Potter hinted that any agreement may be delayed until after a potential semi-final Champions League clash.
"Obviously that delay is something I'm pretty sure is in the conversation for obvious reasons," Potter said at a press conference on Friday.
"I have spoken to Anthony, he's someone I respect a lot and he's given everything for Chelsea. I understand that people have aspirations and it's about respecting that.
"He's away from us for the moment. It's between the clubs, it's not something I get involved in.
"I have huge respect for what he's done, here. He's a fantastic coach and a fantastic person."
Chelsea face reigning champions Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, as they did last year, but could be tasked with a semi-final face-off with former boss Tuchel if Bayern beat Manchester City.
Speaking to reporters in Germany on Friday, Tuchel was positive about the move for Barry.
"It's a matter between the clubs. It's still my absolute wish for him to come. The clubs have to reach an agreement. But I'm optimistic," he said.
Tuchel impressed by Bayern energy as Klassiker kick-starts 'weeks of truth'
Thomas Tuchel believes there is a positive energy around Bayern Munich as they begin the season's "weeks of truth" with Saturday's Klassiker against title rivals Borussia Dortmund.
Tuchel replaced Julian Nagelsmann at the Allianz Arena during the international break, with Bayern trailing BVB by one point and at risk of missing out on an 11th successive Bundesliga title.
The first game of the former Champions League winner's reign pits him against the club he led between 2015 and 2017, winning the DFB-Pokal in his second season at the helm.
Despite enjoying limited time on the training ground with his new players, Tuchel believes Bayern are raring to go in their hunt for three major trophies.
"Today was the first training session with everyone. I feel positive energy and great anticipation. We are very aware of the importance of the game," Tuchel said on Friday.
"These are the weeks of truth at FC Bayern and now it's about titles. Normally Bayern can focus a little more on the Champions League at this stage of the season because they already have a lead in the Bundesliga.
"That's not the case this year and that's why every game counts now. When you arrive at Bayern in April and still are in all competitions, you'll be fighting for all three titles.
"Of course, the quality and performance of the team should be right and should improve, but in the end it's about the titles."
Nagelsmann's exit came amid suggestions all was not right behind the scenes in Munich, but several members of the 35-year-old's backroom team will remain in place under Tuchel.
Denying he had been in contact with Nagelsmann, Tuchel said: "I want to gather my own impressions.
"Some people went with Nagelsmann and some stayed, but I don't see why working with me shouldn't work.
"I would like to form my own opinions and then draw my own conclusions from them. But the impressions have been very positive in all departments.
"Eat, sleep, work and repeat are the keywords. It feels like it has been a month's work and I have been pretty tired every day, but it's still good."
Nagelsmann's dismissal came as a surprise to several Bayern players, with midfielder Joshua Kimmich describing him as an "outstanding" coach while on international duty with Germany.
Asked about those comments, Tuchel said: "His disappointment is understandable. It's not a problem to have a close relationship with a coach.
"Joshua is a player who embodies Bayern. He is a very important player. It's a gift to work with players like that. Most of the time, players' feedback is welcome.
"Along with Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller, he is a very important player. I didn't feel any reservations [from them]."
Terzic relishing Tuchel duel but not viewing Klassiker as a title decider
Edin Terzic is excited to test himself against Thomas Tuchel when Borussia Dortmund visit Bayern Munich for Saturday's Klassiker, but he is not viewing the game as a Bundesliga title decider.
Dortmund sit one point clear of Bayern at the Bundesliga summit as they bid to deny the Bavarian giants an 11th successive league title.
Amid suggestions of unrest behind the scenes, Bayern opted to make a change in the dugout during the international break, replacing Julian Nagelsmann with former BVB boss Tuchel.
Ahead of welcoming Tuchel back to the Bundesliga, Terzic said competing with the former Champions League-winning coach was evidence he had himself reached the top level.
"What hasn't changed at Bayern is that they have a top coach," Terzic said at Friday's press conference.
"It's a shame with Nagelsmann because he's an absolutely top coach, but we all know how quickly things can change.
"I'm very happy to welcome Thomas Tuchel and it shows that I work at the top level. Tuchel is not only one of the best coaches, but also one of the most successful."
Tuchel averaged 2.09 points per game during his two-year spell in charge of Dortmund – the best figure managed by any boss in their Bundesliga history.
Dortmund are entering a Bundesliga matchday top of the table for the first time since the second week of the 2019-20 campaign, while the last time they did so during the second half of a season was when they visited Bayern in April 2019.
BVB suffered a chastening 5-0 defeat on that occasion as Bayern went on to be crowned champions, but Terzic does not believe Saturday's game will decide the destination of the title.
"I'm firmly convinced that the championship won't be decided in tomorrow's game, but of course it can point the way," he said.
"We think that we can set an example and we want to prove that we are different than we have been in recent years.
"We not only respect the task against Bayern, but also the upcoming duels. This is the hot phase of the season."
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