Frank Lampard’s first chance of getting silverware in his debut season as Chelsea boss went up in smoke on Saturday.
The Blues were not good enough in the FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal and the big issues within the squad were exposed once again.
After a superb start with the Christian Pulisic goal, however Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s brace was enough to seal victory over the Blues.
If the Blues are to move forward, then the gap between them, Manchester City and Liverpool then those issues are going to have to be fixed.
Chelsea are already making big moves in the transfer window, with Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech already becoming Blues players.
Now the club are making big strides to bring in Kai Havertz this summer ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.
The move is going to be another big moment for the club if it comes off, with the 21-year-old one of the hottest talents in European football right now.
It’s a transfer which the Blues should be keen to make, but it isn’t going to fix all their options.
Of course, things are being pointed towards Kepa Arrizabalaga being replaced, after he was left on the bench for the final.
But potentially more important than the goalkeeper position is the defensive frailties which were shown up once more.
Some of the best teams in Premier League history, in fact some of the best teams in Chelsea’s history, have been based off strong defences.
Chelsea’s has been anything but throughout the 2019/20 campaign, something Lampard is well aware of.
“The numbers don’t lie,” Lampard said. “We are trying to play a certain way. I know that teams at the top of the game, Liverpool and Manchester City, have been through similar.
“I’m not saying we are going to get to that level, but similar periods in the early stages of their managers being at the club a few years ago. Conceding too much, it is a work in progress for me.
“I can’t shelve it in another direction. We have to work defensively as a group. But some of the individual errors we are making, clear individual errors, some today clearly cost us goals, can’t be there if we want to keep moving forward.
“We have to work as a group to make that better. That is clear, we are not hiding from that. We have come fourth, we’ve had a good season.
“There are areas to improve and defensively we have to improve.”
Missing N’Golo Kante has played a big part in that as well, with not enough protection in front of the defence.
But making moves in the centre of defence is going to be crucial for the Blues to really move forward.
