Maurizio Sarri laid the foundations for Frank Lampard’s Chelsea to flourish

Maurizio Sarri’s full brand of football may never have been on offer at Stamford Bridge, but he has laid the foundations for Frank Lampard’s Chelsea.

Chelsea Football Club has been a force to be reckoned with over the past decade or so. The rise to the top has been nothing short of illustrious. The glory, however, has stagnated over the past few years.

Yes, Chelsea has won trophies consistently, but there has been a lack of continuity and planning at Stamford Bridge. Too many managers have been sacked abruptly, resembling the classic shortage of a long term vision at Chelsea.

Chelsea as a club has an identity of being the underdog. This is in turn a result of the ideologies of managers at Chelsea. All this was set to change when Maurizio Sarri was hired last season. Sarri was at the club with a game that had never been showcased at Stamford Bridge in recent memory.

Everybody seemed to agree that he deserved more time as he was implementing an unknown ideology. The common consensus was that Sarri would truly reach his “way of football” in his second season. Unfortunately, it turns out that the second season will never happen and England will not be able to witness “Sarrismo” in full swing. Sarri has left Chelsea on mutual terms and has signed a new contract with Juventus.

So, Chelsea as a club and as an idea are at crossroads. They are at an important juncture in their history where decisions need to be measured and calculated. Chelsea is strongly rumored to be hiring Frank Lampard as their next manager. The appointment of Lampard comes across as a very emotional decision that perhaps lacks some reason. Lampard, after all, has only been in management for a year. Chelsea probably needs a manager that can steady the ship, trust the youth and work the club through this turbulent time and Lampard seems a little inexperienced.

Is there any reason Lampard is being hired? A brief look at Lampard’s football is necessary to analyze the answer to this question. The style of football deployed by Lampard is highly energetic. His team plays out from the back and they press quite aggressively. The offense is very direct with quick passing through the middle and with the whole team running forward in numbers. It is impressive, attractive, and effective.

After many years of defensive football, Chelsea finally found themselves a gaffer in Sarri that could implement some sort of attacking football at the Bridge. Sarri’s football made the current Chelsea squad press higher and play quicker passes. As the season went on, the squad grew comfortable with making passes in small, tight spaces. Lampard’s way of football comes across as something that would build upon that. Lampard’s brand of football is a combination of Chelsea’s old style and the style Sarri tried to implement.

Sarri’s stint as Chelsea has been a huge blessing for Stamford Bridge. Not for trophies, goals, or passes but for the qualities that he instilled into the squad. The past season has to be remembered as the transition between the past decade and the new era that awaits Lampard.

When Lampard stepped into management last season, his arrival at Stamford Bridge seemed inevitable. It always seemed a question of when and not if. But Sarri got appointed at the same time. Not even the most loyal supports of Lampard would have thought that it would be this soon.

Some people will probably declare that Lampard is not ready and it just is not the right time. However, it is important to understand that Lampard at this point is definitely a gamble, but a gamble worth taking considering the current state of the club. The time will never be right, but the gamble has to be taken.

It seems that all the pieces have all fallen into place and Sarri’s appointment was only meant to be the last piece of the puzzle for Lampard’s arrival to be complete.

The arrival of Lampard at Stamford Bridge is happening. The homecoming is happening. So, erase doubts, clear thoughts and get ready. A Blue is on his way home.