Sports
Is Lampard really an upgrade to Graham Potter?
The question of whether Chelsea interim manager, Frank Lampard is an upgrade of Graham Potter will begin to spark conversations following 3 consecutive defeats since his return to Stamford Bridge.
Frank Lampard may be a Chelsea legend during his playing days but at this point in time, the Englishman is not the hero the club desperately needs.
Chelsea’s struggles continued on Saturday as they suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Brighton. It was a day to forget for Frank Lampard in his return to the Stamford Bridge dugout, as his heavily rotated team was outplayed by a Brighton side pushing for European places.
The game started with Brighton on the front foot, and they could have taken the lead early on. Alexis Mac Allister went close twice, while Evan Ferguson smashed the crossbar inside the first 15 minutes. Against the run of play, Chelsea took the lead through Conor Gallagher’s deflected strike.
However, Brighton continued to dominate and were eventually rewarded when Danny Welbeck headed in an equalizer. The Seagulls continued to push forward, and their persistence paid off when substitute Julio Enciso scored a stunning winner from 25 yards out.
Chelsea did have their chances, with Christian Pulisic hitting the post and the team being more competitive in the second half, but ultimately the result was a fair reflection of the game.
Lampard’s decision to rotate heavily was questioned by many, especially given the team’s poor form in recent weeks. With three defeats in as many games since his return, the pressure is mounting on the interim manager.
The defeat also highlighted the scale of Chelsea’s fall from grace this season. The team that was challenging for the title just a few months ago is now languishing in mid-table, with Lampard struggling to find a solution to the team’s problems.
The result will have also given Real Madrid reason to be optimistic ahead of their Champions League clash with Chelsea on Tuesday. The Spanish giants will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing a Chelsea side that is so out of form and lacking confidence.
Overall, it was a disappointing day for Chelsea, and Lampard will need to quickly find a way to turn things around if he hopes to keep his job and salvage something from this season.
