Frank Lampard returns to Chelsea as a caretaker manager to see off the club for the rest of the season and might have to reshuffle the whole squad. This means that some players might be affected under his tutelage.
There is a massive chain of fast-moving events after Graham Potter was dismissed which led to the return of Frank Lampard to Stamford Bridge.
The Chelsea Legend takes up the helm of affairs for the remainder of the season after Potter was shown the exit door whilst the club search for a permanent manager.
Some of the Blues’ fans will be delighted to see Lampard back at the club with the motive to improve the team and get them out of the bottom half of the Premier League table.
Also, it will be a tough test for Frank Lampard that aside the struggles in the Premier League, he is about to face in-form Real Madrid in the Champions League.
That is the essence of this piece today – to see the winners and losers in the squad as Lampard returns…
Winners Under Lampard
Mason Mount
Mason Mount is a player that will enjoy the return of Frank Lampard after he had declined on the pecking order under manager Potter.
Lampard made Mount a regular starter in his first spell as Chelsea manager after they have previously worked together at Derby County.
This made Mount the focal point in the midfield and he also became a regular starter for England under Gareth Southgate.
Ben Chilwell
Potter managed to do a 3-4-3 formation in his last match as a Chelsea manager but Frank Lampard always liked the 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation when he managed Chelsea (2019 to 2021).
Chilwell who has been enjoying the wing back role will have to revert back to the orthodox left back position.
Lampard will likely use Chilwell more as he signed him personally from Leicester City for £45 Million in 2020.
Edouard Mendy
Another player that would be delighted to see Frank Lampard is Senegal International Mendy who has been second fiddle to Kepa Arrizabalaga since Potter assumed duties.
Lampard in 2020 got tired of Kepa’s incessant mistakes and threw him out of the starting line up replacing him with Willy Caballero.
Lampard in that summer went out personally to sign Mendy after Kepa’s mistake in Chelsea’s match vs Liverpool gave the reds the edge.
Hakim Ziyech
The season has not been a fair one for the Moroccan after starting just nine games for Chelsea and managed just one goal.
Potter sent him to the bench and from the squad totally for his last three matches as a Chelsea coach, even though he played him in the first leg of the Champions League match against Dortmund.
Frank Lampard will certainly make use of Hakim Ziyech as he was the one that brought the Morocco international from Ajax.
Christian Pulisic
Pulisic could also enjoy the comeback of Frank Lampard to the Stamford Bridge despite an injury laden season.
Potter used him more than he used Ziyech in recent games but captain America as he is fondly called barely impacted matches.
Pulisic enjoyed his best form under Frank Lampard in 2019/20 contributing 11 goals and 10 assist, scoring in FA Cup Final and also was shortlisted for EPL young player of the year.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Aubameyang was completely forgotten by Graham Potter adding to the strikers frustration.
The former Barcelona striker has not played since the Tottenham match where Chelsea lost 2-0, and he even started from the bench in that match.
As Chelsea are looking to boost their attacking prowess, Frank Lampard may be looking to tap into the strikers abilities and work on them.
Conor Gallagher and Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Lampard in his first spell did well in favouring homegrown players and brought about Mount, Tammy Abraham and Reece James to the spotlight.
This however could favour Gallagher and Loftus-Cheek as Lampard has shown that he is willing to trust Chelsea academy graduates.
Losers Under Frank Lampard
Marc Cucurella
One player that would lose out largely is Cucurella, because as at the time Lampard signed Chilwell, he had the opportunity to choose between the both but went for Chilwell.
Cucurella might have a hard time fitting into Lampard’s plan except of course Chilwell is out injured or something.
Potter played both Chilwell and Cucurella on the left wing with the former playing as a wing back – this might be different from what Lampard will take on.
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Kepa is probably one of the players that won’t like to see Frank Lampard again at Stamford Bridge.
Recall we talked about Mendy coming back into the line up following Lampard’s return, because Kepa and Lampard don’t really get along due to his incessant errors.
Kepa was unceremoniously dropped from the Chelsea side last time after Lampard grew tired of his costly errors and Mendy was signed to replace him as the No 1.
Now established once again as the first-choice, Kepa will just have to hope that Lampard isn’t as ruthless with him this time around.
Joao Felix
Joao Felix may have hard time fitting into Frank Lampard’s lineup as the loan player plays a free role at Chelsea under Potter.
It is difficult to tell if Joao Felix would fit into a favoured Lampard line-up.
Should Lampard return Mason Mount to the starting line up, Felix may have to be relegated to the bench as Mount will take up the playmaker role.
He may however be used as a false 9 in events where Aubameyang fails to turn up in that position.
Kalidou Koulibaly
Koulibaly just like every other player will come under scrutiny as Lampard set to rearrange his new squad.
And the Senegal captain is prone to mistakes and his floppy defending has shown in different matches.
Thiago Silva would be available soon after a knee injury and Koulibaly will have to prove his worth to Frank Lampard.
