Former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has warned the club’s incoming boss Mauricio Pochettino about the major challenges he will face at Stamford Bridge. Lampard, who was sacked in January after a poor run of form, said the club’s standards have dropped significantly this season and that the excessive size of the squad has impacted team morale. He recommended that Pochettino must reduce the number of players, improve team fitness, and install a winning attitude to bring Chelsea back to their high level and standards. Lampard praised Pochettino’s credentials as a manager and said the new boss should be given time to work with the team to create a solid team identity. However, he cautioned that expectations around Pochettino’s appointment needed to be realistic. The former Tottenham coach has reportedly signed a contract with Chelsea and is expected to be unveiled soon.
Despite spending heavily in the past two transfer windows, Chelsea finished the 2020/2021 Premier League season in 12th place with the club’s worst-ever points total. Lampard criticised the team’s performance, saying that they were not physically competitive enough and lacked the vocal and competitive locker room atmosphere necessary for a top team. Lampard, who only won one of his 11 games in charge, said that there was a lot of work to be done and a new manager would need a pre-season to get the squad into the shape required for success in the Premier League. He urged the players to take responsibility for their poor season and show pride and dedication as Chelsea players in the future.
Frank Lampard lists Chelsea problems facing incoming head coach Mauricio Pochettino | Football News
