Chelsea appointed club legend and former manager Frank Lampard as interim manager until the end of the season as the club chiefs conduct an exhaustive process to find a replacement to Graham Potter. Potter was sacked after the 2-0 loss to Aston Villa and CFC dropped to the bottom half of the table.
With Lampard coming in, Chelsea have struck the right chord with the fans as he is well revered among the fans. Lampard has worked with some of the players and has an amicable relationship with them. During his first stint as CFC boss, he groomed youngsters like Mason Mount, Reece James and Fikayo Tomori. While Tomori has left Chelsea, James and Mount have become an important part of the team.
With Lampard knowing some players in the current Chelsea squad quite well, his return to CFC dugout could benefit players. Some players who had lost their place under Potter will now get an equal chance to impress.
3 Chelsea players set to benefit from the arrival of Frank Lampard
Mason Mount
Mount’s contract situation is far from being sorted. If a new deal isn’t agreed, there are strong chances that the Englishman will leave the club in the summer. While discrepancies remain between Chelsea and Mount over a new contract, CFC have also been preparing for life after Mount.
The 24 year old last played in 2-0 loss to Tottenham. He missed three subsequent games because of a groin injury and has remained on the bench for the last two games. Mount showcased the best version of himself under Lampard.
Under Lampard, Mount has played a total of 124 games combined at Chelsea and Derby County, scoring 22 goals and providing 18 assists. Lampard’s return would see Mount instantly return to the lineup and potentially play an important role in team’s buildup phase and final third.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had fallen out of favour at Chelsea. Potter preferred to deploy Kai Havertz in the central role over Aubameyang. The Gabonese international was close to leaving in January but a move did not materialize. Aubameyang still doesn’t feature in Chelsea’s future plans but he is set to stay till the end of the season.
If he is fit, there is no harm in using him up top. Lampard insisted that slate has been wiped clean for everybody means Aubameyang should get a decent chance at starting.
Edouard Mendy
When Potter came in, he made a change in the goalkeeping area, trusting Kepa Arrizabalaga over Edouard Mendy. Kepa is the better keeper at feet and Potter’s system demanded a ball playing keeper.
When Lampard was in charge at Chelsea, he signed Mendy and instilled him as the No.1 between the sticks. The Senegalese suffered a shoulder injury earlier in the season and has missed 14 Premier League games. He returned on the bench for the tie against Liverpool and should claim his place back if he is fit.
Will Frank Lampard inspire Chelsea to a strong finish to their campaign?