Chelsea have now seen their target level: Is this a turning point or a spiral?

Chelsea’s loss against Bayern Munich was a reality check for Frank Lampard and the players. However, this could be the start of something new and better.

On a night where Chelsea fans held on to the hope of a miracle, such as the one in 2012, Bayern Munich made sure to destroy it all. Chelsea were completely outclassed in every aspect of the game. Although the Blues created chances, the squad’s inexperience and naivete showed how much everyone needs to improve.

From top to bottom, Chelsea need to be better and this game brought to light the not-so-shocking reality. One can only hope this is the turning point for new and better performances for the rest of the season.

Frank Lampard’s Chelsea have fallen into a vicious circle of complacency. Winning some games where no one expected them to; losing the ones that they shouldn’t have; and drawing those where a win was fully expected. The past two weeks have been the perfect example. After losing to Manchester United in a poor display, Chelsea went on to completely dominate Tottenham a few days later.

These inconsistencies have been the story of the season. But this is all part of the squad’s development, as well as Frank Lampard’s.

However, Chelsea had not yet faced an opponent where the gap in talent, organization and hard work was so wide that it made them realize what they should be aiming for. Not until Tuesday night against Bayern.

For Frank Lampard, the training wheels are officially off. Up until December, Lampard was experimenting with the team, trying to figure out who to play and how to play. From the winter break onward, he made it clear which are the players he wants, what he wants from them and how he wants to play them. Although that is a good sign of progress, he now needs to step up and make the best decision every match to win games.

He needs to be able to change things around and deploy strategies that will bring three points consistently. His job is no longer to develop a young squad, but to be the manager everyone knows he can be.

More importantly, he needs to demand more of his players. Clearly, he has a soft spot for some of them. But the time has come to push them and, therefore, improve them. Giving some players chance after chance to develop was great at the beginning, and it worked. However, now it is all about performances and efficiency. These players need to show that Lampard was not wrong in trusting them and put forth the performances needed for the club.

When it comes to the squad, Chelsea were at least two levels below Bayern. The Blues have good players all around, but they need to become great.

They made too many mistakes, as usual. Three goals in one half is almost unforgivable, regardless of opposition. Too many missed chances also helped cost Chelsea the match. Particularly Mason Mount, who had several opportunities to either set up a teammate or score himself and failed to do so.

Everyone fell short of their duties. No one stepped up in a match where every player needed to be a leader. No conviction or fight, no desire to be better than their opponents, only a struggle to try and catch up.

But there is a bright side to all of this: the bar has been raised. Every player now understands the difference between the Europa League and the elite in the Champions League. The margin for error is minimal, and the weight between winning and losing at this stage rests on each player’s shoulder.

The Blues have seen what a group of talented players can do individually; more importantly, what they can do as a unit. Everyone in their respective position now has a personal challenge to improve for the next match.

Chelsea play against Bournemouth on Saturday. That game can either be a turning point for both Frank Lampard and his team, or the beginning of the end for the rest of the season.

They then play against the seemingly unstoppable league leaders, Liverpool, a few days later. Therefore, the time to step up is now.