Chelsea’s Interim Managers’ History of Success in Europe: Lampard Hopes to Follow Suit

Chelsea Football Club has a history of success in European competitions under interim managers. From Guus Hiddink to Roberto Di Matteo and Rafael Benitez, all have led Chelsea to glory in the Champions League or Europa League as caretaker managers. Now, Frank Lampard is hoping to follow their footsteps and lead Chelsea to European success as an interim manager.

The Interim Manager Magic

In 2009, Guus Hiddink was appointed as interim manager at Stamford Bridge. He led the club to the semi-finals of the Champions League, where they were eliminated by Barcelona. However, his achievement as a caretaker manager was impressive.

Roberto Di Matteo took over as an interim manager in March 2012. He succeeded Andre Villas-Boas and led Chelsea to win the Champions League with a dramatic victory over Bayern Munich in the final. The Italian also managed to win the FA Cup earlier that same season.

Rafael Benitez was appointed as interim manager in November 2012 after Di Matteo was sacked. He led Chelsea to win the Europa League at the end of that season, ensuring that his spell with the London club was a successful one before he moved on.

Tuchel’s Triumph

In January 2021, Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard as the new head coach at Chelsea. In just four months, Tuchel led Chelsea to their second Champions League triumph after defeating Manchester City in Porto.

Tuchel’s tactical genius and his ability to transform the struggling team into European champions was praised by fans and experts alike. With his leadership, Chelsea has become a force to be reckoned with once again in Europe.

Lampard’s Hope

Frank Lampard inherited a Chelsea side that had been banned from signing players during the transfer window. He took over from Maurizio Sarri, who had guided Chelsea to Europa League success in his final season in charge.

Lampard’s first season as Chelsea head coach had its ups and downs. Although the team finished fourth and qualified for the Champions League, Lampard was sacked midway through the 2020/21 season due to poor results and performances.

Despite being a challenging assignment, Lampard is encouraged by the success of past interim managers and hopes to repeat their achievements. He believes that Chelsea has the potential to win trophies and dominate Europe under his leadership.

Havertz Dropped; Silva Returns

Chelsea is facing Real Madrid in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. They have had a four-game winless streak, including a draw with Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League that saw them drop points to reach a top-four spot.

In light of this, Lampard has decided to make some changes in his starting eleven. Kai Havertz, who is the top scorer for Chelsea this season with seven goals in the Premier League and two in the Champions League, has been dropped from the squad for this crucial game.

Lampard decided to use the speed and dribbling ability of Raheem Sterling and Joao Felix instead of Havertz to try and hurt Real Madrid on the break. Lampard felt playing with a three-man midfield was crucial to match the Real Madrid midfield.

Thiago Silva returns to the starting lineup after missing the last seven matches. Lampard is delighted to have Silva back and considers him a leader on the field. Silva’s experience and leadership will be invaluable for a game of this magnitude.

Sterling’s Potential Impact against Real Madrid

Despite Chelsea’s recent struggles, some players still pose a threat to Real Madrid. One such player could be Raheem Sterling, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City last summer.

Sterling has played under four head coaches at Chelsea, but recently played his best football under Thomas Tuchel. Despite his recent struggles, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard rates Sterling highly and believes he is a fantastic player.

Lampard also notes that Sterling has the experience and confidence to perform in big games like the one against Real Madrid. It remains to be seen whether Sterling will start the game or not, but his experience could earn him a spot in the starting lineup.

Chelsea has performed well in the Champions League this season, beating Atletico Madrid and Porto on their way to the quarterfinals. Real Madrid should not underestimate Chelsea, even with their recent troubles in form. With Lampard at the helm and a team that can produce moments of brilliance, anything can happen when they face Real Madrid.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons