There is a phrase Frank Lampard has used on several occasions in recent weeks when evaluating his Chelsea side’s slump and reflecting on defeats: the basics of football.
Running the hard yards; covering and supporting a teammate; scrapping for second balls; fighting for results when things are tough. These are the bare minimums Lampard demands, he has told us as much over the past six weeks.
Yet he isn’t getting them from his players. Chelsea have, since overcoming Leeds at the start of December, been far too easy to play against. Belief among the first team has ebbed away, that’s understandable given recent results. The apparent lack of effort from many is not.
The Blues latest defeat – their fifth in the last eight Premier League games – arrived against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium last night. Chelsea’s performance was a mess; a collection of talented footballers playing as limited individuals. Mason Mount aside.
Mistakes were frequent, lapses in concentration punished. The Blues lost the game by two goals, and that flattered Lampard’s side. The Chelsea boss is now in a huge battle to save his job at Stamford Bridge. The pressure has become all-consuming.
“I can’t get caught up in what the reaction will be or I will be sitting there all day concerned about it,” Lampard said after the game. “I took this job knowing there would be difficult times because it is not a club ready to compete [for the title].
“The lucky thing for me is I’m good at handling that pressure. I don’t like it, I want to win games and have people talk about us being towards the top of the league like we were a month ago.
“But the reality is I could sense these periods would come. That’s all I have to concern myself with.”
Throughout Chelsea’s dismal run of form, Lampard has largely said all the right things to the press. He’s challenged his players when required, protected them when needed. He’s defended himself but never criticised those above him.
Yet the media isn’t who he has to convince. We will not define his fate as head coach of Chelsea. The players will. It’s they who Lampard must win back, or at least the majority of them.
Too often this season, it’s felt as though Lampard is trying to keep every member of his bloated first-team squad happy. Except Marcos Alonso that is.
The starting XI has constantly been rotated. Out of form players have been preserved despite better options being available. And senior stars with dressing room influence who appeared on their way out have suddenly been brought back into the fold.
Lampard has spoken about the need for on-pitch relationships to develop, but the frenetic fixture schedule and inconsistent line-ups have given very little opportunity for that to happen.
As he battles to save his job that must change. Lampard has to choose a collection of players, just as he did last season, and back them to start week in, week out. At least until Chelsea get back on track.
No more swapping centre-backs in and out. No more experiments at number six. No more crow-barring Kai Havertz into roles he’s not suited for, even if that means he’s out the side for a spell. No more rotation in the final third: pick the form three and stick with them.
It wouldn’t be universally popular – many fans wouldn’t like such an approach either – yet that can’t influence Lampard. He’s got to do whatever is needed to save his job.
Chelsea’s next three matches are against Luton Town, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley. They are favourable fixtures, an opportunity for Chelsea to get their season back on track.
Three wins wouldn’t fix everything, Lampard would still have several issues to solve. But in this campaign, momentum is crucial.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was on the verge of the sack at Manchester United in November, now his side are challenging for the title. Mikel Areta’s Arsenal were on a desolate run of form in the Premier League but have since improved, although they do still sit below the Blues in the table.
Chelsea possess quality players, more so than last season when they finished fourth. And it shouldn’t be forgotten this group went on a 17-match unbeaten run in all competitions earlier in the campaign.
But what Lampard needs right now, though, are those willing to do those “bare minimums”. Mount has shown he’s up for that fight – he was Chelsea’s standout player against Leicester – others need to follow suit.
If that means big-money signings or experienced pros don't make the cut for several games, so be it.
Lampard needs a group of players he can trust at this difficult moment, a team in every sense of the word on and off the pitch. It's a basic of football, one the Chelsea head coach must follow if he's to have any hope of staying in charge at Stamford Bridge.
