Chelsea is currently sixth in the table after their disappointing home draw against Aston Villa, but Frank Lampard is still the man for the club.
A month ago, Frank Lampard’s Chelsea was talked up as potential title challengers by a certain section of fans and the media. After a run of just one win in five matches, such talks have given way to much more critical ones.
Replacing managers is something that does not affect Chelsea as much as other clubs. The Blues have seen a number of high profile names come and go as its manager. But Frank Lampard was owner Roman Abramovich’s first appointment without much experience in the dugout.
Chelsea’s first season under Lampard saw them finishing inside the top four despite a transfer ban and the sale of marquee-man Eden Hazard. The admirable work was soon rewarded by Abramovich in the form of many big names arriving at the club. Even though Chelsea was at the top for a short time, they have since relinquished few places.
Whenever there is a run of poor results in recent years, there will be talks about the manager’s future. Hence it was not a surprise to hear such news after the last few matches. Some fans are already convinced Lampard is not the man for Chelsea and he should be sacked.
First and foremost, the team has changed a lot since last season. At least six first-team members have arrived at the club. It is not straightforward to integrate that many talents in a quick time without preseason. Injuries to key players haven’t helped Lampard’s cause either.
If the last season is any indication, Lampard is more than capable of leading Chelsea’s current generation from the dugout. It could be observed Chelsea’s record goal scorer is currently struggling tactically in few matches. Although the blues have found it difficult against big names this season, they were able to beat every top team last season. Such performances do not happen due to mere luck. It requires tactical decisions, game plans, and proper training.
The decline of Derby County since Lampard’s departure shows how much of an impact he made there. So it is a bit early to even write off Lampard entirely. On top of that, the way this season is progressing has to be considered. Everton’s went from second to ninth to then back to second in the space of less than ten game weeks.
Chelsea won’t find many who love the club as much as Lampard. It could be said him being one of the greatest players at the club should not be considered while assessing his performance as its manager. Even then it is premature to even talk about a change of guard.
The potential postponement of the blues’ upcoming matches due to covid-19 issues at opponent clubs could see them getting a break of two to three weeks. That will be a welcome break for the club to get things back on track. They also need hope none of the players would have to go quarantine.
Lampard will be more than aware of finishing inside the top four remain the minimum requirement this season. Failure to reach that target might not be talked off as easily as the current situation. But if last season is anything to go by, Lampard has in it him to make this side retain its spot in the UEFA champions league next season.