With Chelsea FC’s triumph over Manchester City FC on Thursday night paving the way for Liverpool FC to be crowned the Premier League champions, there was much anticipation among the Blues supporters who harbour hopes of seeing their beloved team replicate the success of Jurgen Klopp’s side and win the Premier League title next season.
Since being hired last season to replace Maurizio Sarri, who endured an indifferent season while at the helm of Chelsea FC, Lampard shouldered the huge responsibility of his managerial career at the Blues being as prosperous as his playing days for the west London side. However, things were looking bleak for Chelsea FC at that time because of a transfer ban that had been imposed on the club. Adding insult to injury was the departure of Belgian talisman Eden Hazard, who had been the focal point of the Blues success in recent years to Real Madrid FC.
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Lampard entrusted his faith in the youngsters of Chelsea FC, namely Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, and Reece James to do his bidding and aim for a top-four finish in the Premier League. The Blues management had realized that it would not be realistic to aim for title-winning glory with a new manager having just been appointed and given an inexperienced and young squad to take charge of at Stamford Bridge.
However, a year has gone by since Lampard was brought in by Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich to steer the ship at the six-time Premier League winners. The Blues have done incredibly well in the 2019-20 season. The present league table finds them in fourth place, five points adrift of fifth-placed Manchester United FC. Moreover, the Blues have progressed in further rounds of the Champions League and the FA Cup as well.
There are some similarities between the timings of taking over as the team’s manager in the cases of Jurgen Klopp and Frank Lampard. Both coaches inherited a team largely inexperienced and devoid of their best players, who had left the club in search of greater fortunes. However, it has to be noted that Lampard inherited a side that had won the UEFA Europa League last season under Sarri. Moreover, the Blues squad consisted of World Cup-winning players N’Golo Kante and Olivier Giroud.
Also, Lampard has been blessed with the financial might of Abramovich. The mega-rich Russian businessman has spared no expense in funding Chelsea FC’s transfer market endeavours in recent seasons. With the transfer ban imposed previously on the Blues getting lifted, the signings of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner were announced by the club in a span of three months.
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The arrival of Ziyech and Werner would serve as welcome additions to the already on fire Chelsea FC side. Giroud and Abraham have contributed a decent number of goals between them this season. However, Werner brings with himself an impeccable reputation of being a clinical finisher and the ability to break down opposing defences through his rapid pace.
Ziyech will be hoping to serve as the contributor to Chelsea FC’s attacks as their main talisman. The Ajax player has impressed critics with his passing range and set-piece techniques. The 27-year old Moroccan international is expected to slot into the Blues midfield alongside Kante and Mateo Kovacic.
Lampard will further be delighted at the recovery of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who spent 13 months on the sidelines due to an Achilles injury.
The 24-year old player is a very gifted midfielder and would be wonderful squad rotation option for the Blues next season.
The Chelsea FC side is set to be strengthened even further with the expected arrival of Kai Havertz, who is one of the brightest prospects in world football today. The German international has been widely tipped to make the move to the Blues from Bayern Leverkusen, however, interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid FC has led to the 20-year old midfielder mulling over his next destination.
Leicester City FC’s Ben Chilwell is known to be Lampard’s top priority signing ahead of the start of the next season. The English left-back has been identified by the Blues manager to be the perfect fit for the Premier League side, with Marcos Alonso and Emerson not having been on their top form in recent seasons. With Chilwell being only 23-years old, he could play a major role in reshaping the Blues defence for the future, alongside Reece James and Fikayo Tomori.
A host of players have already been confirmed to leave Stamford Bridge in the coming months. Veteran attackers Pedro and Willian will depart following the end of the current Premier League campaign. Moreover, squad players such as Kurt Zouma, Danny Drinkwater, and Michy Batshuayi, who are not in Lampard’s plans for the future, will be sold at reasonable offers to teams interested in signing these players.
The future certainly does seem bright for Frank Lampard and Chelsea FC. The 2020-21 season would serve as an ideal indicator for Lampard’s work in progress at his former playing side. The Blues icon has planted the seeds for the growth of the London-based side in the coming seasons, and it will be seen whether he will reap the benefits out of it.
