Chelsea’s spending spree has fans around the world buzzing. While the potential for greatness is there, so is the looming possibility of failure.
Chelsea is out to ruin football once again. The Blues are splurging on a plethora of players, having already brought in Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner, being in talks for Kai Havertz and Ben Chilwell and showing an interest in a host of other individuals. The club is undergoing a transformation that has been needed for years and is replacing the—for lack of a better term—deadwood with world class talent.
While this is undoubtedly a welcomed change at Stamford Bridge amongst supporters, the concept is a bit of a slippery slope. Chelsea vowed to change—or at least showed intent to—when it appointed Frank Lampard as manager. However, this spending spree is a significant sign that the Blues are slipping back into its old habits; that could mean bad news for the gaffer.
Let’s get one thing straightened out right off the bat: Lampard is not on the hot seat, nor is he anywhere near getting sacked. Great, now that’s cleared up, back to the main point. As Chelsea brings in an influx of world class talent this transfer window and spends hundreds of millions of pounds, the club is going to expect results. In Europe’s most competitive top flight league, Lampard is going to be tasked with delivering those results.
The first season under the second-year manager was deemed a success by supporters and the board alike due to the hardships the club faced. Eden Hazard’s departure, a transfer ban, a managerial change—you know the narrative, it’s been shoved down your throat endlessly by pundits and fans alike. However, the excuses are not there anymore. Lampard is going to be under the microscope from now on due to the transfer ban being lifted and the Blues breaking the bank.
Every individual has a different definition for what a successful 2020/21 season would look like, but in the end, it’s the board’s benchmarks that matter most. Should Lampard fail to secure a trophy, miss out on the top four and consequently widen the gap between the top of the table and his team, his job could be in jeopardy during the 2021/22 season. It’s an awful scenario to imagine, but it’s the risk that comes with accepting the role as Chelsea boss—Lampard knows this.
Few actual fans of the club are expecting Lampard to fail. All signs point toward the 42-year-old leading a successful squad to glory with a mix of academy products and other world class purchases. But it’s hard to ignore the prospect of the Blues reverting back to the same bad tendencies. The club has been building this reputation since Roman Abramovich purchased the team in 2003, it’s going to take more than appointing a club legend to prove the structure has shifted.
However, who knows? In years past, the board has swiftly sacked those in charge who failed to produce when financially backed. Lampard’s three-year plan has seemingly been scrapped and with that comes some high expectations. The world class talent being brought in represents both a blessing and a curse to Lampard, who will only know what the future holds as time progresses. The key to remaining in power at Chelsea is simple: win and you remain in.
Do you think the club will give Lampard a looser leash than those who came before him? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!