It has been 5 months since Frank Lampard stepped into the hotseat of Chelsea. Replacing Maurizio Sarri, in July , the Chelsea legend managed to push the team into the top 4 after only 14 rounds.
Lampard not only changed the tactics but he also implemented young players into the first team, a move that the club will benefit from in the next years.
Lampard believes in fluent one-touch passes and quick movement which has been the dominant style for Chelsea under his management. Creating triangles and diamonds to start the build-up from the back, also in the final third.
Starting formation
Frank Lampard uses a 4-3-3 as a starting formation, similar to Sarri but he added flexibility, splitting the pitch into 3 different parts, own, middle and opposite, depending on what part of the pitch the ball is. His formation changes according to that.
Own half
Lampard uses a 4-3-3 to progress the ball further up, Jorginho being deployed as a regista, a deep-lying playmaker, Kante and Kovacic giving him options of short passes, but also the front 3 providing options for long through balls.
Middle of the pitch
Here, tactics change and the formation shifts into a 2-4-1-3, Kante joining Jorginho in the holding midfielder role, the full-backs, going up to provide support in the midfield, and the front 3 having one midfielder at the base to keep the ball flowing.
Opposite half
The attacking stance shapes into a 2-2-5-1, full-backs become wingers, the centre-backs advancing having Jorginho and Kante in the centre always alert to pass and cover. The front 3 get closer to each other, Mason Mount acting as a second striker behind Abraham.
Defensive stance
Once a player in Mourinho’s Chelsea, under whom he developed a lot, Lampard sets the team to defend in a 4-5-1, compact shape, ready to burst anytime on the counter with speed as soon as the ball gets at their feet.
How will they lineup into the near future
Chelsea under Lampard is growing every game, and the choice to appoint him as the Blues manager was a success. Lampard was a legend as a player, a legend in becoming as coach, all under the same badge, that of Chelsea.
Eduard Dimiean
