Frank Lampard has admitted for the first time that Chelsea are unable to build any tacitcal cohesion due to their bloated squad, thought he believes it will be addressed over the summer.
The caretaker manager is diagnosing problems for the new regime, with talks ongoing to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as his successor. Lampard is feeding back to co-controlling owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali after losing all six of his matches since returning to the Chelsea dugout.
Speaking to reporters at Cobham on Friday, he admitted that he canoot find his first win due to the oversized 32-man squad: “We obviously have a big squad which I think was done for all the right intentions but of course to manage that and get a really tight, connected unit which is the first thing in post [is difficult].
“[We need] connected people working together in a positive way. Then you can start talking about tactics, where are we going on the pitch.
“If you don’t have that it is very tough and that has been very challenging. It’s something that should and will be addressed going forwards.”
Defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday would see Chelsea lose seven matches in a row for the first time since the 1960/61 season. It would also mean Lampard has lost 11 consecutive Premier League matches across his spells at Everton and Chelsea, taking an unwanted record alongside former Norwich manager Daniel Farke.
Avoiding such damming statistics will be hard in the current circumstances, with Lampard adding: “We are the team that changes its [starting] 11 the most so again coming in at this point for me is trying to find the connections in the team, partnerships within the team which are crucial.
“We all know the great teams we have witnessed out there over the years and you can pretty much name connections. The full-backs – Liverpool off the top of my head, two full-backs who are central to what they do.”
It’s not unfathomable that Chelsea lose all their remaining matches and it could leave Lampard’s reputation further damaged.
He hopes his next employer sees the mitigating circumstances of his role at Chelsea: “My instinct was to come here and try and help not just a team but a club in a difficult moment so you have to accept that might not be a very easy ride.
“When I came here I certainly took it on with a lot of heart and understanding that it was short term.
“I’m fortunate to say I’ve managed Chelsea twice, albeit as an interim now. Everton are a huge club. Derby are a huge club. I have no regrets on that side. But maybe I will think in a different way when I move on.
He further explained what he wants from his next job: “I don’t want to be an interim manager in my next job.
“I’d like to be able to work in something that feels like it has an opportunity to go the way I want it to go and I’m very aware of what that way is.”
