It says a lot about Chelsea's 2022/23 that a 2-0 defeat that saw the club head out of the Champions League and in many ways ended the west London side's season, could be a match that felt like it had positives. It was by no means an outstanding performance
What was clear for the Blues is that there was semblence of some identity. There was energy and intensity in Chelsea's press and they generated opportunities in the opening half against Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge, there was something for the ground to get behind.
If nothing else, it was a markedly different outing to what Chelsea had against Brighton just days earlier. A point that perhaps provides disappointment and relief all at once.
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Lampard expects to see motivation in his squad until the end of the season, and it was such traits that helped him pick his team against Real Madrid. Ahead of that clash, the 44-year-old caretaker manager had highlighted concerns he had over the squad's fitness and capacity to compete over the course of 90 minutes,
Following the game, he said: "There’s individual motivations throughout the squad and there’s a collective. And for me, you have to be competitive with everything we do every day and to get into the team you have to show it. The team today is what I felt was the most form team individually, the fittest team in terms of what this game was going to ask of us and they showed it. They showed they can compete with Real Madrid, for sure, except from the final-third stuff. So I think it’s important to take each step. Each step for me and the players now is a day off tomorrow and back to work on Thursday and get working towards Brentford."
There will be greater time on the training pitch before fixtures against Brentford and Arsenal, with the Blues having a week to work towards each. It remains not a massive time to increase player capacity but it will be a crucial period for Lampard to see which players can prove their value in that time.
After defeat to Brighton, Lampard made six changes. N'Golo Kante, Reece James and Thiago Silva came into the side having been rested, while Kai Havertz returned to the lineup after a knee issue and Marc Cucurella came in for the suspended Ben Chilwell. What is perhaps more pertinent lies among players that remained.
Conor Gallagher retained his place to earn consecutive starts having previously been an option from the bench. The former Crystal Palace loanee was probably Chelsea's most impressive player against Brighton in an advanced pressing role in which he was able to show intension and aggresion, while capping off his appearance with a fortunate goal.
Trevoh Chalobah likewise earned a second start in succession having had little involvment in recent months. The Cohbam product had a difficult challenge up against Kaoru Mitoma but Lampard kept faith with the 23-year-old for the Champions League clash.
The duo may not be regarded as Chelsea's most talent players but it appears they ticked the boxes of meeting the demands Chelsea and the opposition have at this stage of the season. It remains to be seen whether they continue to earn Lampard's trust but with so many other players in the squad, they've clearly left a positive impression and it is up to others to displace them.
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