Frank Lampard looks set to be announced as the new Chelsea manager after Derby County confirmed they had given Chelsea permission to speak to the 41-year-old. With his appointment imminent, here are two things, I believe, Lampard will bring to Chelsea following what looks to be an arduous season next year.
The first is fairly obvious, however, it’s the most crucial of the two things he brings. Lampard will give young players both the chance and the sense of belief to succeed next season. While managing Derby last season, the former Chelsea player gave numerous young stars the chance to shine, and it worked wonders for the side. Derby enjoyed a stellar season in both league, as they reached the Championship play-off final, and cup competitions,
It was the age of some of the players in the Derby side that really caught the eye from a neutral point of view, especially in the major games in their season. In the play-off final versus Aston Villa, four of the 11 Derby players were under the age of 22, including two on the right-hand side of the defence. That is a high level of trust in such a major game in Derby’s season. And despite Derby losing the game, Lampard still managed to reach the final.
The second thing Lampard will look to bring to Chelsea could massively help Chelsea build cohesion and passion. The lack of cohesion and passion to play for the manager was very noticeable under both Antonio Conte and Maurizio Sarri. Under Conte, numerous Chelsea players including Willian and Diego Costa enjoyed less than pleasant relationships with Conte, which could be seen as a direct factor in his eventual sacking.
However, under Lampard player relationships should become much better than under Conte and Sarri. The hype around Lampard’s imminent appointment has already started to spread among the fans. Social media has been awash with Chelsea fans excited about the prospect of Lampard returning to Stamford Bridge. However, its not just the fans who are excited about Lampard becoming the manager. Tammy Abraham gave an interview while away at the under-21 European Championships, saying ‘there’s no better guy’ than the 41-year-old to manage Chelsea.
Lampard looks a risky appointment, however, there remains a high level of excitement surrounding his appointment. His belief in youth and his love for Chelsea are two things that could push the club on to great things next season.