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#3 Kurt Zouma
After a largely successful run on loan at Everton in the 2018-19 season, questions abounded over the future of defender Kurt Zouma upon his return to Chelsea at the end of the campaign.
Many observers felt that the Frenchman would prove to be surplus to requirements and would end up being forced out of the club. However, under Frank Lampard, Zouma ended up thriving and is now considered a key member of Chelsea’s starting XI.
Despite having plenty of competition for his place from the likes of Fikayo Tomori and Antonio Rudiger, Zouma remained practically the one constant in Chelsea’s defense under Lampard.
And while that defense was widely questioned on numerous occasions last season, the first half of the 2020-21 campaign has seen Zouma improve dramatically.
Not only has he formed a rock-solid partnership with Brazilian veteran Thiago Silva, but he’s also been able to contribute at the other end of the pitch with four goals to his name.
Given his supposed limitations when he first returned to the club, it’s clear that the Frenchman has improved under Lampard – meaning the outgoing Chelsea boss has left his successor Thomas Tuchel with an extremely talented defender to make use of.
#4 Mateo Kovacic
Maurizio Sarri’s reign at Chelsea might not have gone too badly – his side finished third in the Premier League, after all. But the Italian boss was largely maligned by Blues fans. And to be fair, they had their reasons.
One such reason was his persistence with Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic. Signed in a loan deal from Real Madrid in the summer of 2018, Kovacic felt like an unneeded addition to an already top-heavy squad.
And on the pitch, he failed to make an impact and became most known for either replacing or being replaced by Ross Barkley.
When Chelsea made his move permanent in the summer of 2019, then most Blues fans were largely underwhelmed. However, under Frank Lampard’s management, Kovacic suddenly burst into life.
Usually deployed as a box-to-box midfielder whose job was to start attacks from deeper positions, Kovacic thrived under Lampard during the 2019-20 campaign. His record of 23 Premier League starts was similar to his record under Sarri, but his performances were definitely not.
At times, Kovacic seemed impossible to dispossess, and his stats improved markedly – from chipping in with more assists to doubling his amount of successful dribbles per game. Suddenly, the £40m fee paid for him felt like a bargain.
This season has seen the Croatian play a little less, but there can be no doubt that he improved his form tremendously under Lampard. Kovacic could now play a key role under new boss Thomas Tuchel.
#5 Reece James
While Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham were almost immediately thrust into Chelsea’s first team by Frank Lampard, it took Reece James a little longer to establish himself.
However, in the 18 months under Lampard that have followed, James has developed his game hugely and now stands as one of the Premier League’s best right-backs.
The 2019-20 campaign saw James largely used as a back-up to club captain Cesar Azpilicueta, with the youngster being preferred against more speedy opponents such as Wilfried Zaha. But in the current season, there can be no question that James is now the first choice at Stamford Bridge.
He’s played 14 of Chelsea’s 19 matches and has already chipped in with one goal and two assists, as well as a Man of the Match-level display against Brighton & Hove Albion.
And all of his statistics have improved, too, from the amount of tackles and clearances he makes per game to his passing success rate and the amount of crosses he’s putting in per game.
James was always a top-level prospect, as fans who watched him on loan at Wigan would attest. However, it’s hard to dispute that the 21-year-old definitely improved under the tutelage of Lampard.
