There’s no denying that Frank Lampard has received mixed reviews regarding his first year in charge of his beloved Chelsea. Some argue that, considering the circumstances – including a transfer ban, the loss of Eden Hazard and his inexperience as a coach – the former England international has done a pretty admirable job on the West side of London. However, others believe that the 42-year-old has shown a great deal of naivety, allowing for the same defensive mistakes to crop up time and time again – highlighting no signs of improvement over the course of the campaign. His long-awaited return to Stamford Bridge was always going to draw attention, both positive and negative, but there is more to Lampard’s coaching style than simply the disputed level of success.
It’s no secret that Lampard was one of the greatest midfielders to ever grace the game. Supporters remember him as the ‘goalscoring midfielder’ – a player defined by both the quality and quantity of his goals, the timing of his runs and his ability to create space. For these reasons, it was easy to conclude that he was an attacking-minded midfielder – and his stats simply confirm how successful he was in front of goal: he managed 177 league goals during his time as a player – the highest for any midfielder in England’s top flight. His tally of 211 goals in all competitions places him at the top of Chelsea’s goalscoring records, with the small matter of 102 league assists to really drive the point about his greatness home.
Given his attacking mindset, it’s not too surprising to see how well Chelsea are going forward under their new manager. Despite their defensive concerns, the West London side conjured up 69 goals in the 19-20 campaign, slightly overperforming their xG (expected goals) of 66.6. However, they were still third in the league for both statistics, beaten only by current champions Liverpool and attacking powerhouse Manchester City, with the Citizens managing an incredible 102 goals last season. Chelsea’s recent results, featuring a 5-3 loss against Liverpool and a 3-1 win against Manchester United suggests their problem isn’t their inability to find the back of the net. Like Lampard, they focus heavily on their attack, and as a result, it has become one of the Blues’ more defining attributes over the past year.
Although Lampard only began his managerial career just two years ago, he already has a clear set of tactics that he deploys, including an energetic, high press. During his time as a player, he was always encouraged to press up the field, especially under former boss Jose Mourinho. In the 04-05 season, Lampard would often push forward to support the lone striker. Fast forward 15 years and over the 19-20 season, Chelsea pressed high and aggressively, even without the ball – putting pressure on the opposition and forcing them to make quick decisions. Essentially, this is why Mason Mount has been so crucial to their system. The 21-year-old’s energetic and intelligent pressing means he fits perfectly with Lampard’s tactics – helping to build upon their previously established relationship at Derby County. You could even go as far as to say that there are distinctive similarities between Lampard and the youngster, including their playing attributes, work ethic and versatility.