Mount in, Havertz out: How Chelsea will line up with Frank Lampard

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 6 Apr 2023 21:38 BST
• 3 min read

Rather than opt for a continuity candidate following the sacking of Graham Potter, the Blues’ owners have instead turned to a club legend to steer the team through the last couple of months of the season.

It is a third significant turn that Todd Boehly has made with regards the team’s style of play since taking over less than a year ago, with Potter himself a departure from what Thomas Tuchel had offered in the first weeks of Chelsea’s new era.

Lampard offers another new direction – and if he is indeed a temporary appointment, as seems likely to be the case – another will be taken in the summer through Luis Enrique, Julian Nagelsmann, Mauricio Pochettino or perhaps someone else entirely.

MORE: Frank Lampard’s SHOCKING record in first Chelsea spell

Certainly, Lampard is set to offer Chelsea a more straightforward way of playing than Potter’s more complicated tactical style.

The former England international midfielder typically prefers to play a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation, and with so many different tools at his disposal at Stamford Bridge, it is likely that he falls into line with one of these.

MORE: Winners and losers of Frank Lampard returning to Chelsea

How Chelsea will look under Lampard

Lampard’s return is good news for goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who beat Kepa Arrizabalaga to become the manager’s first choice in goal when he was last in charge.

Similarly, Reece James and Ben Chilwell will start in the full-back areas with Thiago Silva in the centre. He should be joined by one of Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile and Kalidou Koulibaly in defence.

Mason Mount can look forward to more game time in midfield, where Enzo Fernandez and Matteo Kovacic are liable to start. N’Golo Kante’s game time is likely to depend on how he returns from injury, while there is major competition here with Conor Gallagher and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

The biggest change could come in attack. Lampard may opt to use Joao Felix as a centre forward, with Kai Havertz never having won him over in a previous spell, while natural wingers are likely to be used. This spells good news for Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling, Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and Noni Madueke.