Frank Lampard at Chelsea: In-Depth Tactical Review and the Road to His Dismissal
Frank Lampard’s return to Stamford Bridge as Chelsea’s head coach sparked excitement and hope among fans, especially after a debut season that exceeded expectations despite the lack of new signings. Empowered by a core of young, homegrown players, Chelsea secured a top-four finish in the Premier League during Lampard’s first year. However, after a record spending spree and a tumultuous second campaign, Lampard’s era ended abruptly. This analysis dissects the strategies, challenges, and turning points that shaped Lampard’s Chelsea tenure.
Lampard’s Initial Season: Youth Development and Overcoming Transfer Limitations
Taking charge of Chelsea with a transfer embargo in place, Lampard leaned heavily on the club’s youth academy graduates. Players like Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori, and Reece James played prominent roles, fueling Chelsea’s push for a Champions League spot. Lampard’s faith in this young cohort paid dividends, allowing for energetic performances and the integration of fresh ideas into the squad. Ultimately, Chelsea finished fourth, trailing Leicester City for much of the season before overtaking them and securing Champions League qualification behind Manchester United.
Transformation with Major Signings for 2020–21
Ahead of the following season, Chelsea invested aggressively, adding high-profile signings such as Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Ben Chilwell, Edouard Mendy, and securing veteran Thiago Silva on a free transfer. Early into the 2020–21 campaign, these additions appeared transformative. Chelsea found themselves second in the table after nine matches, demonstrating attacking flair and defensive promise. Lampard seemed to be melding the strengths of new arrivals with existing young talent, maintaining Chelsea’s competitive momentum.
Tactical Systems: Preferred Formations Under Lampard
Lampard predominantly operated with either a 4-3-3 or, at times, a 4-2-3-1 setup. The 4-3-3 was often favored due to its ability to provide balance in midfield and cover in transitional phases. Throughout his tenure, the formation featured several key positional changes:
– Goalkeeping saw a shift from Kepa Arrizabalaga to Edouard Mendy, with Mendy initially steadying the defense but later experiencing inconsistent form.
– The back four, including Ben Chilwell’s arrival at left-back, offered increased dynamism, although defensive solidity remained inconsistent.
– In midfield, the trio of Jorginho, N’Golo Kanté, and Mateo Kovačić provided control and work rate during the first season. In the second campaign, Mason Mount’s increasing role led to rotational changes, especially in the holding midfield spot.
– The attacking line was fluid, with the likes of Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech, Werner, Abraham, Olivier Giroud, and Havertz rotating through wide and central positions.
Analyzing the Midfield Dilemma: Jorginho vs. Kanté
A persistent question throughout Lampard’s Chelsea reign involved the optimal deployment of Jorginho and Kanté. Both midfielders brought unique attributes—Jorginho with his passing and positional discipline, Kanté with his defensive prowess and energy. Under Maurizio Sarri and initially with Lampard, the two alternated as pivots in a three-man midfield. However, the introduction of Mount into this central axis typically came at Jorginho’s expense, reducing Chelsea’s control in the build-up phase.
While the midfield trio of Mount, Kovačić, and Kanté offered dynamism, it sometimes lacked the composure and distribution Jorginho provided, especially against teams pressing high. This disrupted Chelsea’s ability to initiate attacks from deeper positions, contributing to issues both in ball progression and defensive transitions.
Struggles with Individual Flair and Directness
Chelsea under Lampard were characterized by a possession-heavy approach, ranking among the top Premier League teams for short passes per game—trailing only Manchester City and Liverpool. However, the team often displayed a reluctance to rely on dribbling or individual creation, ranking near the bottom of the league for dribbles completed per match. Christian Pulisic was the lone exception, but even his end product waned in the absence of a stabilizing creator like Eden Hazard.
The consequence was a tendency to circulate possession in deeper areas rather than breaking through defensive lines with direct runs or intricate interplay in advanced zones. The loan departure of Ross Barkley, a midfielder with the ability to drive forward, exacerbated this weakness. As a result, Chelsea’s attack at times lacked a cutting edge, becoming predictable and easier to defend.
Management of the Attacking Line: Rotations and Partnerships
Early in the 2020–21 season, Lampard’s use of Werner on the left flank, alongside Abraham through the middle and Ziyech or Pulisic on the right, yielded promising results. However, sustained form proved elusive:
– Timo Werner, initially contributing both goals and assists, suffered a crisis of confidence, enduring a long goal drought.
– Tammy Abraham, the team’s leading scorer in 2019–20, saw his role diminish despite his contributions, sidelined by the sporadic form of Giroud and Werner.
– Hakim Ziyech’s impressive start was curtailed by injury, and he struggled to regain his influence thereafter.
– Havertz, recruited for a significant fee, frequently found himself deployed out of position or as a substitute, limiting his impact.
Lampard rarely deviated from the 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1, even when these systems appeared ill-suited to the skillsets of the new signings. Consideration was given to alternative formations—such as a 4-2-2-2 or a back three—which could have better accommodated Werner centrally and given Havertz a more natural role. However, these adjustments were not consistently tested, contributing to attacking inconsistency.
Attacking Patterns and Set-Piece Strengths
At their peak, Chelsea under Lampard fielded an adventurous shape in attack, often flooding forward with both fullbacks and featuring six players threatening the opposition’s penalty area. Their ability to exploit wide spaces and generate set-piece opportunities resulted in a notable tally from corner kicks, illustrating a strength in offensive dead-ball situations. However, reliance on set-pieces was insufficient at a club with ambitions extending beyond such margins.
Defensive Overhaul: Improvements and New Weaknesses
While Chelsea’s defensive vulnerabilities were partially addressed through recruitment—most notably with Mendy in goal and Chilwell at left-back—structural issues persisted. The removal of Jorginho from the starting eleven, coupled with a midfield trio lacking a pure distributor, led to coverage gaps during transitions. Opponents increasingly found ways to exploit the spaces between midfield and defense, as seen in decisive defeats to Arsenal, Manchester City, and Leicester.
Additionally, Chelsea had difficulty neutralizing late runs from opposition midfielders and effectively screening their back line. The existing formation failed to deliver the desired stability, and tactical tweaks—such as incorporating a double pivot or transitioning to three center-backs—were not adequately explored.
The Downturn: Results, Pressure, and Managerial Change
Despite a bright start to his second season at Chelsea, a sequence of disappointing results—aggravated by Lampard’s tactical rigidity and challenges in integrating the new signings—culminated in the team’s slide down the league table. With Chelsea dropping as low as ninth and several key rivals holding games in hand, the club’s hierarchy opted for change. The availability of Thomas Tuchel, recently dismissed from Paris Saint-Germain, provided the final impetus for action. Lampard was relieved of his duties the day after an FA Cup win, as the club sought renewed direction.
Legacy of Lampard’s Chelsea Tenure
Frank Lampard’s managerial spell at Chelsea will be remembered for its transitional nature—a period that saw the emergence of the club’s next generation. While his efforts to shore up weaknesses and integrate marquee signings were met with mixed results, his commitment to youth development and ability to identify problem areas marked him as a thoughtful leader. Lampard’s inexperience in top-level management was evident, but his tenure provided valuable lessons that could serve him well in future roles. Above all, Lampard remains a cherished figure at Chelsea, respected more for his contributions as a legendary player and his willingness to take on one of Europe’s most demanding jobs.
Summary
Lampard’s era at Chelsea was defined by early promise, impressive integration of academy talent, and ambitious yet occasionally mismatched signings. Tactical inflexibility and unresolved midfield issues ultimately led to his dismissal, but his influence in fostering young talent and attempting to address longstanding weaknesses offer positives for his coaching credentials. As Chelsea turn to new leadership, Lampard’s time in charge stands as a formative chapter in the club’s ongoing evolution.
