With defeat to Real Madrid on Tuesday evening, Chelsea's chances of winning a trophy and finding some tangible form of success ended. Rodrygo's goals ensured the Blues and their supporters knew they were not at the level to progress to a Champions League semi-final regardless of any merit found in the performance.
Many will switch off, while others will think 'what is next?' in the coming days but it will be difficult to contemplate six weeks of the season with little to play for. Chelsea sit 11th in the Premier League with little hope of even earning a place in the Europa Conference League.
It's difficult to argue there is much to play for before the end of the season. Speaking following defeat to Real Madrid, Frank Lampard disagreed however. "The motivation has to be playing for Chelsea," said the Blues caretaker manager.
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The 44-year-old coach has been consistent in his messaging that he wants players to understand what it is to play for the Blues and has referenced the difficulty that younger players could have faced in making the adjustment amid the club's struggles in transition. With the end of season now fast approaching the futures of Chelsea's stars now comes into play, and it does not seem a stretch to suggest some focus will not be entirely on west London.
While Wednesday sees a day off for the squad, the period following Real Madrid introduces the first significant time Lampard will be able to spend on the pitch with the squad. In less than two weeks, the former Chelsea midfielder has taken charge of four matches and not been able to do much in the way of physical work at Cobham.
Lampard now has to make a decision on what to do for the remainder of the season. From a club perspective, with little left to achieve, the focus should turn to how next season is best served.
"People on the outside may well write it off, coming in eighth or 12th, or whatever it is," said the Blues boss. "To me it means a lot. That for me is the challenge; to raise performance. I keep saying I haven’t had time to work, I have now had some time to work and I saw things today that I liked."
Of course, Lampard will be hoping to earn his next job with what he can produce until the end of May. Wins will go a long way to helping his reputation.
Champions League football will have allowed much of the squad to remain invested. Those not included in the European squad are generally at the start of their Chelsea careers, meaning most players have had good cause to buy-in so far.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang stands out in that regard but appears to already be close to the end of his time at Chelsea. The former Arsenal star is unlikely to be the only one however as Lampard looks to manage a first team squad of 31 players that must be trimmed come the summer.
Without the carrot of Champions League glory, it will be easier for distractions to seep in. Players committed to Chelsea should be the focus moving forward and with the likes of Noni Madueke and Carney Chuwuemeka having not played since Lampard's arrival, perhaps it is now time to change that.
Upon his arrival, Lampard acknowleged that he would have to rely on his knowledge of the squad garnered before making his return. With a week ahead of Chelsea's next match against Brentford, the opportunity has arrived to now let work on the training pitch shape his plans, and to utilise his skills to aid in developing young, talented players who have been signed for now and the future.
If that means focusing training on a smaller group and some players not featuring again for the club, so be it.
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