Sport
Lampard’s return shows Chelsea have run out of ideas
Chelsea’s result and performance against Wolves on Saturday was very much in keeping with what the club’s fans have grown accustomed to in recent weeks and months. The Blues were generally lethargic at Molineux and deserves to lose 1-0. There was no ‘new manager bounce’ following the appointment of Frank Lampard as interim manager.
This shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise. Chelsea have struggled badly for attacking threat this season and Lampard, as a manager, has frequently failed to effectively set up teams in the final third of the pitch. The former midfielder doesn’t stand for any clear tactical ideology as a coach either.
Even as an interim manager, Lampard’s appointment made little sense. If Chelsea plan on hiring a coach of the calibre of Julian Nagelsmann or Luis Enrique this summer, Lampard’s short spell in charge will do little to prepare the groundwork. No parameters have been set for Chelsea between now and the end of the season. What would success look like?
While Ralf Rangnick oversaw a difficult period in Manchester United’s recent history, it could be argued the German coach helped prepare the ground for Erik Ten Hag to implement his modern style of play this season. Rangnick might have inadvertently played a small role in United’s improvement since his departure.
Lampard’s return to Stamford Bridge two years after his sacking there proved Chelsea have run out of ideas. They are on their third manager of the season after sacking Graham Potter and Thomas Tuchel. There has been no strategy underpinning any of their business in the transfer market since Todd Boehly’s takeover of the club and Lampard is the manifestation of this scattergun approach.
“We have been working here for one or two days and it’s about getting an understanding of that and the mindset of the team,” Lampard said after the underwhelming defeat to Wolves. “There has been a lot of change and that’s not an excuse but things need to improve and I think that performance summed it up. I have to get an understanding of it. When I say mindset, it’s not necessarily a negative. You have to get used to winning and make it a habit.”
Chelsea’s Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid gives Lampard a chance to point the club in the right direction after defeat to Wolves. There is still a lot of talent in the Stamford Bridge dressing room and Real Madrid have shown their vulnerabilities over the course of the season. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Chelsea could make the semi-finals.
N’Golo Kante’s return to fitness has strengthened Chelsea’s midfield unit while Enzo Fernandez has settled relatively since his January transfer from Benfica. Joao Felix has quickly become the Blues’ most consistent attacker after joining on loan from Atletico Madrid with Kai Havertz’s potential still clear even if he has lacked conviction in front of goal this season.
Defensively, Kalidou Koulibaly was considered one of the best centre backs in the game not so long ago with Wesley Fofana a potentially good partner for the Senegalese international at the back. Ben Chilwell and Reece James are also two of the best full backs around. Chelsea could find form at the right time to see off Real Madrid.
Even if that happens, though, success for Lampard as interim Chelsea manager will mean very little because it’s not clear how the 44-year-old fits into the broader picture. Chelsea are just treading water until they can settle on a clear vision for the club’s future for next season and beyond. They are wasting time.
