This weekend, Lampard will take charge of his first game against the ineffective Wolves, followed by a Champions League match against a Real Madrid team coached by former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti.
In advance of Saturday’s game, Mirror Football has selected some of the more compelling sub-plots. A number of players will be hoping that things will turn around under the new manager.
1. Lampard and Mudryk chat
When he was in command at Goodison Park, Frank Lampard attempted to sign Mykhaylo Mudryk to the club. He now has the chance to collaborate with the Ukrainian. Since joining Shakhtar Donetsk in January, Mudryk has battled and has a lot of competition for the starting position.
Shakhtar’s sports director Darijo Srna reportedly made reference to the Toffees’ bid when he said, “We received an offer of €30m (£26m)” to CBS Sports in September. Additionally, our president is telling everyone that he wants to advance in the Champions League and to win the championship yet he refuses to sell a player for €30 million, especially in these trying times.
Without a doubt, if he hadn’t been stopped, Chelsea’s interim manager had huge plans for Mudryk on Merseyside. In training, the two were spotted engaged in a heated discussion. Lampard will be hoping to bring out the winger’s Shakhtar form rather than the weak performances we have seen him put on for Chelsea. On Saturday, everyone will be watching from Molineux to see if Lampard’s call to arms succeeds.
2. With smiles moving forward
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was another man Lampard once pursued. In 2020, Chelsea was interested in signing the Gabonese frontman but decided to go after the long-departing Timo Werner instead.
The former Arsenal player might be given a second shot in the league, even if he will not participate in European competition after being left off the Champions League roster. Raheem Sterling, another summer acquisition, may find atonement of a different sort.
Despite having a season interrupted by injuries, England’s forward Sterling did score an important goal against Borussia Dortmund in Europa. The frontman was all smiles as he prepared for a possible longer run-out on Saturday after taking a month off to play the final few minutes in midweek.
3. Kante keeps making a comeback
N’Golo Kante’s participation was among the most appreciated spectacles during the midweek draw with Liverpool. With hamstring problems, the French international missed the majority of the season and the World Cup as a result. Under Potter, he played just 33 minutes.
Kante led Chelsea on Tuesday and was unharmed for the entire 69 minutes. He immediately returned to the practice field in anticipation of the Wolves game, where he would be attempting to continue playing himself into form.
4. Expectations for Pulisic
The year 2019 saw Christian Pulisic make his Chelsea debut under Lampard, but both Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter made it more difficult for him to log playing time. Potter at the helm made it seem as though his days were numbered, but the change in the dugout may give rise to new hope.
Lampard previously told NBC’s Inside the Mind that the reason he decided to give Pulisic the number 10 shirt was because he felt the player deserved it and wanted it. “When he arrived the previous year, Willian was almost the only candidate at the club to wear the No. 10 jersey, therefore I believe it was appropriate for him to accept the position given his background.
“When it was revealed, I believed that what Christian had accomplished in his first year more than merited his receiving the shirt and its implications. I am aware that many people will wait in line to try to get that shirt since it signifies a lot. Yet, I was eager for him to have it and delighted to make the call.”
5. Mount is about to return
Although Mason Mount has been absent for a shorter period of time, the England star may still be crucial over the next few weeks. After excelling under his countryman during a loan stint at Derby, the 24-year-old made his Chelsea debut under Lampard and continued to be significant to Potter and Tuchel.
A defeat to Tottenham at the end of February, which signaled the beginning of Potter’s demise, saw Mount make his last appearance. He was injured in March and missed the international matches, although he has since returned to training and was not used as a replacement against Liverpool.
The academy graduate hasn’t had the best of seasons; he has just three club goals this season and none since the beginning of the year. He is one of several who will hope to regain the form he displayed during Lampard’s first season as the club’s manager.