Frank Lampard admits he feared for his relationship with Chelsea's supporters after he was sacked as manager.

Lampard was let go by Chelsea after just 18 months and was replaced by Thomas Tuchel, who has since taken the club to the Champions League final.

"I have to say that when you lose your job it's hard," Lampard told The Telegraph. "Anyone who says anything differently is a liar. It's not the truth.

"There's an element of pride, you're working towards something one day and then it's taken away from you. That's life. You have to be a realist about it.

"Very quickly the dust has to settle and one of the biggest things for me - living in Chelsea, a mile from the ground - is that I walk around and see Chelsea fans all of the time.

"You do wonder what the reaction will be because you've lost your job - will they be happy with what you did or not? And I think it made me realise even more, the bond I had with them from my playing days but also what they saw, what I was working towards in season one [as coach], up until the point where I left in season two.

"I was working with a real vision because I care about the club. I wouldn't have gone into the job without a full understanding that at some stage I might leave in whatever circumstances.

"I didn't go into it with just a full heart, wanting to go back to Chelsea after a year managing at Derby. I went into it with a full head and realising what an opportunity it was. Would it last forever? History tells you probably not."