3:09 Why Chelsea fans should be excited about signing Kai Havertz from Leverkusen
As for Ziyech, at 27, he is undoubtedly in his prime. Chilwell is younger but he has vast experience – his first appearance for Chelsea will be his 100th in the Premier League.
Star players and expectations to match.
For Lampard, it changes the job. His task now is to ensure that his own time in charge does not come to be viewed the same way as last season: good fun while it lasted but not the long-term solution for a club with demands befitting that of a modern super club.
He must prove he is more than a mere placeholder.
Some of the traits that seemed so important just one year ago are less of a priority now. Lampard has stabilised the club, reconnected with supporters, and he has brought through some promising young players. But Pulisic and Mount are 21 now. The next step is here.
In short, Thiago Silva is not here for a rebuild. He is here to win.
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That is exactly how Lampard sees it too.
“I like the idea of players coming here who have a character, a desire, an attitude to come and work to be a success at Chelsea,” says Lampard. “Not just to pass through, not just to come and see what happens, not to come here because we are in London.
“I want them to want to be part of a really strong team that wants to go places. Of course, we want talented players but I want individuals with that mindset. Most of the things I have been involved in in football that have been good have had characters.
“People with desire to be winners.”
He understands that mentality better than most and, yes, he understands this club. His 11 major honours at Chelsea came in a career that spanned nine different managers.
He played and scored when the team won 6-0 against West Brom on the opening weekend of the season a decade ago – a performance for which Carlo Ancelotti was summoned to owner Roman Abramovich to explain himself as the display was deemed unacceptable.
He was there when Luiz Felipe Scolari was sacked in February with Chelsea only four points off the top of the table. He will recall former team-mate Roberto Di Matteo’s sacking just six months after leading the team to their first and only Champions League success.
Not everyone at Chelsea enjoys these moments revisited and it is true the circumstances have been different in each case. But this is a more accurate reflection of the fact that this is a club that traditionally demands more than most. The past year was the aberration. Chelsea’s summer spending is a reminder that the old rules apply once more.
The squad now looks deep. A refresh was required but after such significant investment, Lampard must know he will be judged by new standards – the old standards.
He will not be afraid to embrace that. Lampard is a winner by habit. His owns standards are high and there were signs as the season progressed that he was tiring of talk of tomorrow.
2:17 Why Kepa Arrizabalaga can take inspiration from Spain team-mate David de Gea
The decision to drop Kepa Arrizabalaga for Willy Caballero was ruthless. Favouring Olivier Giroud over Abraham proof that he was not wedded to the notion that he was some sort of development coach. Tomori hardly featured after the turn of the year even when he was fit. Havertz has even taken his shirt number.
Rather than perpetuate the idea that his team was ‘on a journey’ and pleading patience in the way that, say, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has done at Manchester United, there have been frequent reminders when the level of performance has fallen far short. No excuses.
Now those excuses are no longer available even if he ends up needing them. Trophies are the currency that counts at Stamford Bridge and though it will not be easy to compete with Liverpool and Manchester City, the ambition will be for Lampard to do just that.
In its own way, the first season was tough. Ironically, the addition of so many quality players makes the second season even tougher. There will be fewer academy graduates in the Chelsea team this year on September 14. There will be far greater expectations as a result.
Sourse: skysports.com
