Chelsea was given a glimpse at a harsh reality in Munich on Saturday as Bayern showed the Blues what it takes to become a dynasty in world football.
As things got underway at the Allianz Arena on Saturday night, everybody around the world knew the tie was done and dusted. Bayern Munich had soundly defeated Chelsea following a 3-0 away win in the first leg. No team has ever come back from losing by that margin or greater at home in the Champions League. Naturally, few truly believed the injury-ridden Blues would become the first.
Chelsea eventually went on to lose 7-1 on aggregate, being beaten 4-1 in Munich, but the scoreline was only part of the disheartening lesson learnt on the day. The biggest disappointment was the fact that—given the circumstances—the Blues played quite well. However, the glaring gap in quality proved too much at the end of the day. The Champions League round of 16 bout with Bayern exposed Chelsea; not by showing everybody who the Blues truly were, we knew that, but how much work they still had to do to get where they are trying to be.
Chelsea lacks many things; from a steady defense to leadership and everything in between, but the thing it lacks most is an identity. It’s difficult to establish an identity in just one season, especially 12 months removed from yet another coaching change—the club’s third manager in as many seasons—but it’s not impossible. Bayern Munich underwent a managerial shift in the middle of this season and it’s arguably the best team in Europe right now because the core bought into the manager’s vision.
It’s hard to ignore the player overhaul, as well. The Blues have lost a series of leaders in recent years with John Terry, Gary Cahill, Branislav Ivanovic, Cesc Fabregas and now Willian being shown the door. Under Frank Lampard this season, a number of young stars also made their debut with Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and Reece James all playing crucial roles in the side. Therefore, nobody expected the Blues to come out with a set identity, but a better job must be done going forward.
Towards the end of the season, it became a crapshoot trying to guess which formation Lampard would line his team up in during a given match. With formational changes also comes tactical differences and the stylistic transformations begin to cause confusion. Only then does a team begin to develop a foggy identity.
The 2020/21 season will be crucial in this regard, despite the Blues only having about a month to prepare while continuing their squad overhaul. As the gaffer is finally able to bring in the individuals he wants, Lampard needs to have his side playing a certain way on a consistent basis. Doing so will establish continuity, familiarity and an identity within the team—and Lampard knows this must be done to succeed at the top of European football.
By playing a consistent style and building an identity, the Blues will take strides towards getting where they want to go. However, Chelsea also needs to find leaders in the squad and field a consistent XI.
Bayern Munich’s XI on Saturday consisted of three players who lost to Chelsea in the 2012 Champions League final—while its English opponents trotted out Andreas Christensen (2013) Kurt Zouma (’14), who are the longest-tenured players for Chelsea at the senior level. The German giants have manufactured a dynasty by building a core of long-lasting, successful leaders. This doesn’t happen overnight, but the Blues need to figure out who those players will be before they begin to think about speaking the word dynasty into existence.
Constructing a lasting regime in English football is a tall order—it’s not impossible. Sir Alex Ferguson did it with Manchester United and it’s yet to be done since. Oddly enough, it feels as if the Blues are headed down that path, but everything needs to fall into place in order to make that happen.
Bayern Munich gave an inexperienced Chelsea side a glimpse into a harsh reality during their tie, but it may prove to be the wake up call Lampard and his men needed. Years down the line, losing in embarrassing fashion to Hans-Dieter Flick’s side may be the catalyst that awoke a sleeping giant.