Frank Lampard takes training for the first time today after being appointed Chelsea caretaker manager until the end of the season.
As the fans get to grips with seeing the club legend back in the dugout, the players will also be thinking: “What does this mean for me?”
Many in the squad worked with Lampard during his first spell in west London, which ended in January 2021, so will have a sense of what is to come.
But two years is a long time, and the squad has been bolstered to the tune of £600million this season alone. Who should be happy and who should be concerned?
Here’s Nizaar Kinsella with his thoughts...
WINNERS
Mason Mount
Obviously. The 24-year-old made his Chelsea debut under Lampard and, towards the end of his tenure, became the youngest player to wear the captain’s armband since John Terry in 2021.
There’s a real friendship and bond between the two and, having been an unused substitute for the last two games under Graham Potter, expect him back in the starting XI.
Christian Pulisic
No manager got more out of Christian Pulisic.
The forward produced the form of his life when football returned during the pandemic, with seven goals in 11 games making him Chelsea’s most potent attacker in that period behind closed doors.
Everyone expects Pulisic to leave in the summer but Lampard, through his personal relationship and awareness of how to attack the box, could bring the American back in from the cold.
Academy graduates
Reece James is a player Lampard also loves having tried to sign him on loan mid-season while at Derby County and then giving him his debut in west London.
James was going to have an important role whomever was in the dugout, but the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah, the latter of which didn’t even make the match day squad in midweek for Liverpool, should all be buoyed by Lampard’s return.
Lampard will bring with him a host of English coaches who were made in Cobham, just like these players.
LOSERS
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Kepa suffered a disastrous season under Lampard that threatened to derail his career.
He has since criticised his former manager while praising his successor, Thomas Tuchel. He said last year: “We came from a not so elaborate game [with Lampard], we didn’t have to take the ball from behind, a less planned game, more to the free expression of the player, back and forth and less control. With Tuchel we have returned to control.”
Having been no1 for Graham Potter, Kepa could soon become the back-up option behind Edouard Mendy, who was signed under Lampard and is now fit.
Kai Havertz
Lampard struggled to get the best out of the German during his time in west London. He tried him in a variety of positions including in the heart of his midfield and on the wing but to little reward.
Havertz was Potter’s most-used player during his short tenure and currently tops the club’s goalscoring charts with nine goals.
Marc Cucurella
Having had the Brighton connection with Potter, he now loses that. Ben Chilwell was also signed by Lampard and was one of his favourite players during his second season in charge.
Furthermore, Lampard prefers to play a back four, which will leave less opportunities available for the defenders, particularly Cucurella who played on the left-hand side of a back three.
