Chelsea’s potential means they need to be even more studious in their pursuit of excellence. The players have too much lose, and it is easier than ever to let it all slip away.
If the current Chelsea team has shown anything, it is simply potential. They have shown potential strengths and even flashes of genius. They have, though, also displayed a worrying potential to lose concentration, under-communication and a general sense of disorganization.
Potential is good but it is not enough if they cannot remain calm, controlled and mentally strong. The good news is they have the right person in charge to instill such virtues into a team: Frank Lampard, the perfect manager to teach these young players. He may be even more so for the lesser talented players than the ones who are viewed more prodigiously.
Frank Lampard was never viewed as one of the most talented players in the game. He was simply the most professional. The history of Chelsea’s winningest age is littered with stories of his attitude and pursuit of perfection. He played with a broken bone in his foot while today’s players miss multiple matches from migraines or lack of beddy-bye bed time. If Chelsea are to have an age like that of yore ever again, Frank Lampard is the perfect player to – at the very least – set the attitude for that group.
Recent news around the side affirms that a calm attitude will be necessary as the world of football becomes even more ridiculous. Players are being caught bickering over spilled chips. Some will be caught in casinos while injured. Others will simply have their wives make more news than their teams.
The world is more difficult to navigate for a professional footballer than ever before. Attitude and demeanor are more important than ever as a result. While before a player could just worry about the mistakes they made on the field, now a whole new array of pitfalls await them at every turn.
They will all, of course, make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, and that is one of the only things that actually likens us all to one another as a species. That said, it is how you learn from and move on from those mistakes that often defines a career or a life.
Frank Lampard made mistakes as a player but he is a great example of how much a person can learn and what they can achieve with perseverance.
That is what this Chelsea side will need to learn. If they can learn to persevere the hardships of a match, a season and a career then they will be in a perfect place to build a new legacy of excellent at Stamford Bridge. They’ll be able to do so in very much the way their current manager already has.