Six games that have defined Chelsea’s season so far

English football is finally upon us and Chelsea is back. You would be forgiven to feel the 2019-20 season was a lifetime ago, so here is a quick recap.

For better or for worse, football is back as the Premier League returns for the first time in 100 days. It has been a long three months for all supporters, but the wait is finally over. The pre-game line-up announcement, the tunnel walks, the referee’s first whistle and the sound of the studs hitting the ball for the first time; we go again.

It’s time to gear up and get in sync. To that tune, here is a recap of the games that have defined Chelsea’s season thus far.

1. Manchester United 4 – 0 Chelsea, Premier League (11/08/19)

It was to be a grand coronation, the true fairy tale story of a club’s greatest player returning as its manager, to bring back the glory days. Instead, it was a rude awakening to a harsh reality.

Football might be the ‘beautiful game’ but it can certainly be a cruel sport. To survive, teams must sometimes sacrifice the beauty of it and play to win, a lesson Chelsea learned the hard way. The Chelsea players were not as bad as the scoreline suggested, but in the attempt to dazzle the field. The Blues made mistakes and United ensured each one of it was punished.

It set the tone that while Lampard and his young guns were brimming with talent, it would take time and adaptability to find any sort of success this season.

2. Wolves 2- 5 Chelsea, Premier League (14/09/19)

The first month of Lampard’s tenure at Chelsea was riddled with inconsistencies. The team struggled to follow through and adapt to game plans, which led to up and down results. While things were improving on the offensive front, the defence left gaping holes time and again.

To arrest these defensive issues, Lampard made a switch to a back three with the hope the structure Conte had familiarised most of the backline with would get the team back on track.

While the tactical switch did not pay off as was hoped for, Lampard’s faith in Chelsea’s youngsters did. Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori stepped up to blow away a disciplined Wolves team, sending a clear message to the world that they were ready for the big stage.

In a season where the club lost its best player and was banned from making any additions, Lampard learnt that should he persist with his faith in Chelsea’s youngsters, they would reward him handsomely.

3. Chelsea 4 – 4 Ajax, Champions League (06/11/19)

For years after the club’s maiden success in the competition, Chelsea floundered in their quests in Europe. The magical Champions League nights grew scarcer. The last time the club was involved in a classic moment was when Demba Ba scored a last gasp goal against PSG, to send Chelsea to the semifinals, not much has happened for the Blues in the competition since.

It was only fitting that Frank Lampard, one of the players from that night, led Chelsea into a European classic with Ajax that introduced the club’s true return to the competition.

Wonder goals, questionable refereeing decisions, penalties, free kicks, comebacks and disallowed goals; the game had everything a neutral would ask for and was a mix of dejection, elation and frustration for both sets of supporters.

It was the apex of Chelsea’s highly entertaining, frantic brand of football this season—and was almost a comeback for the ages.

4. Tottenham 0 – 2 Chelsea, Premier League (22/12/19)

While Chelsea’s frantic football was a treat for neutrals, defensive vulnerabilities often hindered good periods of play and resulted in inconsistencies. While Lampard was slowly being recognized for his man-management skills, his tactical approach came in question, particularly as he was set to go up against his former mentor—the pragmatic Jose Mourinho.

The master vs. the apprentice.

In the feisty London derby—or Mourinho Derby—Lampard proved that he has what it takes to manage a club of Chelsea’s stature, as he outfoxed Mourinho with a sublime tactical maneuver. With a three at the back, Lampard silenced the troublesome duo of Alli and Son—who had punished Chelsea repeatedly in the past—and controlled the tempo of the game. The Blues hit Spurs on the break and the rest was history.

Mourinho once made a name for himself by winning the big games, with the term ‘Mourinho Masterclass’ associated with his victories. Years from now, this game will mark the first ‘Lampard Masterclass’.

5. Chelsea 0 – 3 Bayern Munich, Champions League (26/02/20)

Certain games go beyond just 90 minutes of football as they have more to them than the scoreline or performances dictate. Chelsea’s round of 16 tie against Bayern Munich was one such occasion as the world witnessed the clash of not only two teams, but two club cultures.

After Chelsea’s glorious night in Munich in 2012, both the clubs involved went about their futures differently. Chelsea persisted with its hire-fire culture, but couldn’t keep up with the likes of Manchester City, PSG and Real Madrid in the transfer market. Big money was often spent on sub-par players as the squad began to digress.

Bayern, on the other hand, went about its transfer business meticulously, spending the right money on the right players. The club shrewdly built a core of players that went on to dominate Bundesliga and the world, and swiftly replaced them when required.

These clashing club cultures created such a huge gap between Chelsea and Bayern, that regardless of everything the club, Lampard and players had done right this season, it simply wouldn’t be enough. And so it proved.

The Blues gave it their all, the tactics were spot on, but Bayern drubbed Chelsea and taught the club a valuable lesson in the process; change comes at the cost of patience and persistence, but eventually pays off.

6. Chelsea 4 – 0 Everton, Premier League (08/03/2020)

There has been a consistent theme to Chelsea’s season; inconsistency. It is easy to see why.

Lampard has relied heavily on his youthful, perhaps too much at times. While the Blues have had some spells of sparkling form, there have been other times where they experienced the lowest of lows, which directly impacted the team’s performances.

The Englishman’s reluctance to use the old guard consisting of Giroud, Alonso and Pedro deprived the team of experience it desperately needed at times. But, when the youngsters struggled with repeated injuries, Lampard’s hand was forced as he finally reinstated the old guard. They repaid the faith placed in them with crucial victories, like the one against Spurs, but the height of their success came against Everton.

After a categorical defeat to Bayern, a head-scratching—but deserved—draw with Bournemouth and a puzzling win against Liverpool, it was anyone’s guess as to which Chelsea would turn up against Everton.

The team that turned up though, put the finest display of football under Lampard’s reign and set the narrative of what the future holds. Youngsters, like Gilmour, will restore the club to the pinnacle of football and veterans like Giroud will guide them along the way.