Chelsea has to find that chip on their shoulder after FA Cup

Chelsea’s loss in the FA Cup was partially self inflicted but not totally. The Blues need to find the chip on their shoulder again.

There are many things that made Chelsea successful over the Roman Abramovich years. Good players, good managers, and a culture built upon winning however it takes are just a few of the factors. All of those can and seemingly are becoming present again going forward.

But this is the house that Jose Mourinho helped build. There was always one key factor he relied on that pushed Chelsea to another level: an us against the world mentality. The Blues did not turn up for the FA Cup, but Anthony Taylor killed any gained momentum any time it began. The world showed it was against Chelsea. The Blues need to find that old chip on their shoulder as a result.

Yes, this is the old “campaign against Chelsea” line brought back to life. True or not, Mourinho used it for a reason. It got his sides fired up when incorrect decisions happened. The current Blues squad did not get fired up when Anthony Taylor gave yellow after yellow and whistled ever foul on the Blues alone. They wilted. They went into themselves. That only gave Arsenal more of an advantage.

It is understandable why things have changed. Mourinho’s shtick has clearly become more and more obsolete in the modern game. It is hard to motivate with anger anymore. Chelsea saw that first hand in 2015.

But Chelsea has also tried to step away from that as well. The harder knuckled players that responded well to adversity are all gone, replaced by technique on the ball. Technique is important, and while one on one Chelsea is surely a better side than ever, it is in their head that they have fallen off. The leadership many often say is lacking is yet another part of this.

Frank Lampard knows what Chelsea used to be like. He knows, better than almost any other manager in recent years, what they should look like. And giving the Blues the right mentality is ultimately on him as the manager.

He has had moments where he has tried. As Chelsea defeated Leicester in the FA Cup, he blasted them at half time. He said they were not fit to wear the badge. It worked on the day, but the FA Cup final showed the players did not internalize it. That motivation has a shelf life coming from Lampard. The players themselves have to bring it out every time something feels unjust.

This is perhaps another reason why Lampard’s Chelsea project is moving so aggressively in the transfer market. He is looking for quality which Chelsea does lack in some areas, but he is also looking for the player who will fight for their badge. He wants a Didier Drogba screaming “it’s a disgrace!” as he comes off rather than a player that simply gives a wry smile to the ref.

Lampard wants the Blues to be bastards again. He wants other teams to fear them. The FA Cup final hurts in many ways, but the Blues can make it matter. They have to find that chip on their shoulder as a result and say never again.