5 Positives of Chelsea’s Season So Far
It is very difficult to find one obvious positive from the fledgling days of Frank Lampard’s reign at Stamford Bridge – let alone five. However, with an international break granting plenty of time to reflect upon the current situation, there are certain elements that Lampard can draw upon from here.
1. Abraham Onside
Now that he is all but Chelsea’s main number-nine striker, Tammy Abraham is shouldering a huge amount of pressure, and this was in full evidence earlier in August.
While his performance on the opening weekend at Old Trafford was instantly forgettable, the same could be said for the entire squad. Then, sadly, came the UEFA Super Cup, and though Chelsea looked a good match for Liverpool in their lost showdown with the Reds, Abraham’s penalty miss made him a scapegoat.
Less than a month after that inconsequential penalty miss, which drew so much shameful vitriol from ‘keyboard warriors’ across social media platforms, Abraham goes into the international break on the back of two braces in as many league games.
Lampard’s decision to stand by Abraham has been fully vindicated, ensuring that there is at least one player who will remain proverbially onside, should the dreaded ‘lost dressing room’ motif ever be affixed to Lampard in the coming months.
2. Mount has come of age
Lampard’s integration of Mason Mount into the first team setup is also a huge positive. While any comparisons with the departed Eden Hazard are likely premature, Mount already has his first Premier League goal in Chelsea blue. With that milestone reached, the childhood academy star can only get better by the week.
It is evident that his respect for Lampard remains unwavering on a higher stage, turning a blind eye to any hype surrounding him and simply concentrating on forging a great partnership with Abraham in the final third.
3. A Good CL Draw
The next positive from the early days of 2019/20 comes mainly from luck. However, Chelsea have been granted a relatively mild group in the Champions League, heralding a shortening of their outright price in football spread betting for the competition.
As winners of the 2018/19 Europa League, Chelsea were granted a place amongst the top-eight seeds for the draw. As such, the Blues must see Group H as one to win – nothing less is good enough.
Based on their run to last season’s Champions League semi-finals, Ajax will be seen as the main threat to Chelsea. Yet, with Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong leaving during the summer, the Amsterdam outfit are unlikely to enjoy such a result this time around.
4. Travel Sickness Cured?
A 3-2 win at Carrow Road – especially one which saw Chelsea’s defensive struggles go unaddressed – is hardly an uprising, but it is a step in the right direction. Words cannot express just how inept Chelsea were during the second half of their away campaign in 2018/19, but the numbers speak volumes.
A 6-0 thrashing at Manchester City, followed by a 4-0 humiliation at the 11,000-seater Vitality Stadium, stand as lowlights in the dog days of Maurizio Sarri’s ill-fated reign as Chelsea boss. The long-standing inability to score on the road was a burning issue, leading many to suggest that the players had lost the type of hunger and killer instinct that drove them to the title just two years ago.
Defensive shortcomings appear unaddressed for now, but beating a Norwich side still on a high after a fantastic result of their own takes some doing – whether you are a member of the ‘top six’ or not. In that regard the signs are encouraging as far as Chelsea’s away form is concerned, even if the fact that they have beaten only newly-promoted opposition on the road in 2019 is not.
5. Lampard Still has Time
Perhaps most significant of all is the fact that a majority of Chelsea fans still back him to keep Chelsea in the top-four. Admittedly, the title has never been so distant, but the club needs stability after a decade of continual managerial turnovers.
Beyond the international break lies Lampard’s very time of reckoning. It will be extremely hard for him to mastermind at least four points from a trip to Wolves and a home match with Liverpool, but beyond that is a chain of fixtures that Chelsea simply must win.
The alternative is the sacking of a club idol, which can only lurch the club further towards exile from the top-four… or a third spell under Jose Mourinho.
Perish the thought.