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The situation at Chelsea is gradually approaching crisis as results continue to be hard to come by. The Blues currently risk missing out on Champions League qualification for the second successive season, having fallen to 6th place on the Premier League table.
Confidence has also been short at the Stamford Bridge following losses to Bournemouth (4-0), Arsenal (2-0) and Manchester City (6-0). Maurizio Sarri’s side have also been booted out of the FA Cup after losing 2-0 at home to Manchester United in the fourth round of the competition.
As if that is not enough, Chelsea again lost out on title glory after succumbing to Manchester City on penalties in the Carabao Cup final. There have been reports that manager Sarri has fallen out with some of his players in light of the club’s recent poor form.
However, should the Blues hierarchy decide on a change in managerial direction, Frank Lampard would be the best person for the job. The former Chelsea midfielder is doing well Derby County in the Championship and it would be a great if he gets the nod to manage the Blues.
Here are three reasons why Chelsea should appoint Lampard as their next manager:
#3 He knows the Premier League very well
One of the main reasons why Frank Lampard would be a good fit at Chelsea is because he already knows the Premier League. Many managers have often struggled in the English topflight because they usually need time to adapt.
However, Lampard played in the Premier League for over a decade and would need very little time to get going. At a time when Chelsea is seriously struggling to put results together, the 40-year-old definitely fits the bill.
And, it’s not as if the Blues legend has not earned the right to be considered for the job. After retirement, Lampard immediately proceeded to get his coaching badges and has since done well at Derby County.
If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could transform the fortunes of Manchester United in just two months, then there is no reason why Lampard – who is also a Chelsea legend – cannot do same for the Blues.
#2 Lampard understands the Chelsea philosophy
Another reason why Frank Lampard should be considered for the Chelsea job is the fact that he needs no introduction to the best system for the club. Having played under many managers at the Stamford Bridge, he sure understands the ‘Chelsea way’.
One of the biggest problems of recent Chelsea managers has been either man-management or player mutiny. It happened under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, and it could happen under current manager Maurizio Sarri too.
With a former player in charge, these things are unlikely to happen. There are even some players in the Chelsea squad who played together with Lampard during the twilight of his career. The likes of Eden Hazard, Cesar Azpilicueta and David Luiz played with him and would definitely relish the opportunity to work again with him as their manager.
Also, rather than try to impose his style of play on the squad, Lampard is more likely to revert to the ‘Chelsea way’ which has served the club perfectly in the past. Again, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is showing the way at Man United, so why can’t Lampard do the same?
#1 He could be Chelsea’s first long-term manager
In the last decade, Chelsea have had many different managers, with Maurizio Sarri being the eighth to ascend the Blues’ managerial hot seat. In all this, one thing the club has lacked is consistency and longevity when it comes to managers.
Since Roman Abramovich bought the club, no Chelsea manager has stayed for more than three years. But now, the Blues have the chance to hire a man who could be the club’s first long-term manager. In Lampard, this is a real possibility.
Despite the 40-year-old’s relative inexperience, this is the perfect time for him to be given the nod. Many European clubs have taken the gamble to allow their legends into top management and have never regretted it.
Real Madrid did it with Zinedine Zidane and now Santiago Solari; Barcelona did it with Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique; and AC Milan are currently doing it with Gennaro Gattuso. Lampard was as influential a player as the aforementioned legends were, and he could equally become a fantastic manager should Chelsea give him the chance.
