Playing well for an hour in a game can sometimes prove enough to overcome an opponent lacking in quality. But if Carlo Ancelotti’s on the other side, you have to be on top of your game for 90+ minutes, knowing that even then could prove futile. But Chelsea’s problems are way more serious than “just” being unable to win a game. Even club legend Didier Drogba cannot believe what’s going on with his favourite club.The Blues are out of the UEFA Champions League and no longer have the illusion that Frank Lampard might do what Thomas Tuchel did in 2021 and what Roberto Di Matteo had done in 2012. There will be no Champions League glory at Stamford Bridge this season. So what’s left?Frank Lampard is the first ever Chelsea manager not to win any of his first four games in charge of the club in the Premier League era: ◉ Wolves 1-0 Chelsea ◉ Real Madrid 2-0 Chelsea ◉ Chelsea 1-2 Brighton ◉ Chelsea 0-2 Real Madrid Not the return he was hoping for. 😳 pic.twitter.com/Fc1tlvT2qq— Squawka (@Squawka) April 18, 2023 Left are numerous players who were brought into the club without a clear long-term plan or idea of what their roles would be. Buying someone just because they’re a capable footballer doesn’t automatically make them a functional part of your team. We’re not sure of Todd Boehly has realised in recent weeks that simply signing players isn’t enough to create an all-conquering team.Frank Lampard was very candid in his assessment of the match, touching on his side’s dominance and their lack of a cutting edge in the final third.”We played really well for 60 minutes. After the goal to make it 3-0 in the tie, we made some changes to go for it and it’s normal how the game pans out, to a degree. But, for 60 minutes, it’s really good. We created really good chances which, at this level, you have to take. You don’t want to praise the performance too much when you lose at this level because it’s finite.”##NAJAVA_MECA_7190026##Chelsea have now failed to score in 18 matches in all competitions in a season for the first time since 1980/81 when they were shut out in 21 games. Lampard was then asked whether he was worried about his side’s lack of goals.”It’s clear, isn’t it? It’s not for the want of trying, we had a lot of numbers in the box, we got in loads of crossing positions so I’ll never criticise the lads for that. If the tie went 2-1 at any point, you really would’ve felt the crowd turn and the way we were playing, we were moving the ball really well, we were giving them a lot of problems on the wings.”Former Chelsea ace, and Lampard’s teammate, Didier Drogba didn’t sugarcoat what he has to say about Boehly and his management of his beloved club. Speaking in front of TV cameras, the Ivorian legend said what most Blues fans think.”I knew this club with a certain class during the Abramovich era, but today I find it lacking. It’s very hard for me to see how they got rid of certain people. They should go back to the principles and values they had. I no longer recognise my club.”Didier Drogba : “I knew this club with a certain class during the Abramovich era, but today I find it lacking. It’s very hard for me to see how they got rid of certain people…”“They should go back to the principles and values they had.I don’t recognise my club anymore” pic.twitter.com/8zSLefyPH7— TLV (@TheLampardView) April 18, 2023 The Blues are now 10 points behind seventh place in the Premier League and 17 from the top four. Given how much money they spent in the summer and then in January, it’s pretty embarrassing that their season is likely over with almost two weeks left in April. The club currently has 31 players in the senior squad, but they already know they will be looking to sell a significant chunk of that group before the next season begins. Several of them, including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic, are just some of the high-profile players who probably can’t wait to leave.Since Lampard is only the interim manager, he has no authority to decide which players must stay and who has to go. His hands are tied and he’s forced to try and find the winning formula in the remaining games. But, all evidence considered, his second coming as the coach will offer even less joy than the first one.🫠 Frank Lampard’s last 17 games as a manager:❌ Lost 2-1❌ Lost 2-0❌ Lost 1-0❌ Lost 2-0❌ Lost 2-1❌ Lost 3-1❌ Lost 4-1🤝 Drew 1-1❌ Lost 2-1❌ Lost 3-0❌ Lost 4-1❌ Lost 2-0🤝 Drew 0-0✅ Won 3-0❌ Lost 1-0❌ Lost 2-0❌ Lost 2-1❌ Lost 2-0 pic.twitter.com/mxhcOQLsOd— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) April 18, 2023 It’s back to the drawing board for Chelsea. But this time a simple sketch won’t be enough.
