Chelsea: Three things to look for vs. Morecambe in the FA Cup

Chelsea plays host to League Two side Morecambe in the FA Cup, what are the things you should be looking for in the match though?

For a second time in the span of a week, a Chelsea game many previously thought would be postponed is on. This time, the Blues’ opponent is far less ferocious as League Two’s Morecambe comes to Stamford Bridge. Frank Lampard is expected to field a team full of fresh faces as some of the club’s most talented youth products will be given the keys to the car against the Shrimps. Chelsea has had a rocky last few weeks though, so anything less than a convincing victory will be seen as a failure in the eyes of many.

Here are three things to look for in the Blues’ FA Cup contest against Morecambe:

1. Can Frank Lampard motivate his men?

If there’s one job a manager should undoubtedly be good at—especially someone like Lampard—it’s motivating the team. Chelsea looked lackadaisical at Arsenal, subpar versus Aston Villa and flat out uninterested against Manchester City. The lack of spirit and fight in the team has seen the Blues drop points in a handful of fixtures over the last month. The tumbling needs to stop at some point though.

Perhaps the most difficult match to get a European giant like Chelsea motivated for is an FA Cup tie against a League Two side. Regardless, Lampard needs to ignite a flame inside his players or he could be shown the door within a matter of days. Luckily, he’ll be coaching a team that is comprised of some individuals who will naturally play with a fire lit underneath them. The young stars will be eager to impress the gaffer and their older colleagues, proving they belong at the level they are getting a chance to play on.

The biggest question now becomes: how will Lampard inspire some of his first team players that are in a slump? The English manager’s passion has been enough to kickstart some incredible comebacks and performances over the last two seasons, but we’ve never seen a slump quite like this. The 2020/21 season is undoubtedly different and more difficult, that doesn’t excuse Lampard’s recent managerial blunders.

The Blues will naturally look a bit awkward on Sunday given the fact the XI players will have likely never played together before outside of training this week. That’s OK, what cannot be excused is a lack of effort from anybody against Morecambe. Lampard said himself that he’s at his best when under pressure—we’ll find out on Sunday.