Frank Lampard has received plenty of plaudits so far this season but has also been victim to some unjust criticism. Yes, Chelsea have not been brilliant week in, week out. However, when you take everything into account, the young manager has been a roaring success so far.
The Blues found themselves at a crossroads in the summer. Yet another manager was out of the door despite a relatively successful year, and it was time to bring in another new man to take over the first-team duties. Chelsea legend Lampard was chosen after a great season in charge at Championship side Derby last season.
It was never going to be an easy ride for the inexperienced manager. His first job was to deal with a squad he was stuck with because of a transfer ban. The only addition he could make in the summer was Mateo Kovacic, who was already on-loan at Chelsea. Lampard had to make use of what he already had at his disposal.
Eden Hazard had also just left the club. He was the star-man last season and dragged the club to Europa League success and a top-four finish. Super Frank could not replace the Belgian and needed to press the reset button at the Bridge.
That he did. Lampard has instilled a new culture at Chelsea and finally trusted in the youth. Numerous academy graduates have become regulars in the first team and the results have been great.
Chelsea are sat comfortably in fourth place and have played some brilliant football along the way. There have been difficult moments and some serious inconsistencies, but the overall trend has been pretty good. The Blues look good for Champions League qualification next season and are also still in this year’s competition.
They are faced with a last-16 tie with Bayern Munich next month and will be hoping to make it through to the quarter-finals. Lampard has his team playing some great stuff at times.
The club is not at the same level that it was five or ten years ago, but some strong foundations are being built. It will take time, but Lampard has done superbly well so far. He is the man to take this Chelsea team back to the top.
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