08 April 2023 , 17:48
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Frank Lampard dressed all-in-black for the occasion. Okay, it might have been dark navy blue, but you get the sentiment. Yes, it was funereal Frank…
If this second coming was supposed to turn water into wine - or confidence-sapped players into world-beaters - then it fell short. Well short. Yes, it’s going to take more than a change of face in the dug-out to bring about a change of fortune on the pitch.
All right, Matheus Nunes isn’t going to ever hit a ball as sweetly as he did for what turned out to be the winner. But Wolves remain among the relegation candidates. One of their recognised forwards hasn’t scored a goal in over one calendar year. And this wasn’t undeserved. Far from it.
There was supposed to be a bounce. Chelsea bounced about as much as a soaked newspaper would if it was tossed on the floor. There still wasn’t that half-a-yard of sharpness. That killer desire which is the hallmark of an elite player was missing.
When Lampard was kicked out of Stamford Bridge the first time around two years ago, Thomas Tuchel picked up the baton and ran with it. Chelsea ended the campaign winning the Champions League.
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Judging by the state of the XI fielded, this week’s opponents Real Madrid must be wondering how these bedraggled Blues even qualified for the competition, let alone reached the last eight.
This outing in the Black Country was a sharp reminder - not just what a confused, directionless collection Lampard has inherited - but also of how far standards have fallen in such short time.
A disappointing day for Lampard (Getty Images)Sure, Chelsea have come a cropper a couple of times in the Black Country before. But they’ve kinda been a rarity rather than the norm during the Premier League era.
As the club was fashioned in the image of serial winner Roman Abramovich, a string of star-studded teams turned up and swaggered about as if they owned the place. More often than not, they did.
Wolves had to be at their best - think of Nuno Espirito Santo’s first couple of seasons in the top-flight, for example. But this wasn’t a vintage performance. Yes, it was full of heart, energy and a determination not to be beaten. But it wasn’t special.
A much-needed win for the Black Country side (James Gill/Getty Images)What will worry Lampard is that it didn’t have to be. The same failings seen on the pitch against Aston Villa and Liverpool in midweek were again in evidence. Particularly in attack.
For all the plaudits that rain down upon Chelsea’s well-remunerated recruitment team - and they couldn’t even find a striker worthy of the name while they were speed-dialing clubs to sort out top-heavy transfer fees as they raced around the January market with the company credit card.
At least - at the very least - Graham Potter’s removal has allowed Lampard the opportunity to allow everyone to wipe the slate clean.
Let’s be fair, the former manager hardly had time to make an assessment of the embarrassment of players at his disposal before he was canned.
Can Lampard turn things around? (Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang liked the post on instagram that the club issued when it announced that Potter was being removed. Whatever went on between them, it took little more than an hour for Lampard to at least try and repair the damage.
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The veteran Gabon international was called from the bench in what had been a fruitless exercise as far as Chelsea’s forwards were concerned. In fact, he was one player out of over £200m of talent that was called into action as the clock ticked down towards defeat.
He did offer a focal point. But by that stage, Wolves had retreated. They were happy to cling on to what they had earned. And, although the afternoon descended into a Harem-scarem last few minutes, Wolves’ keeper Jose Sa didn't have a shot to save.
It really is going to take more than a change of face in the manager’s office to right the wrongs at Chelsea. And on the evidence of this, that could mean next season.