It’s for records that Lampard’s future will depend on making Havertz and Werner a success. Reports suggest that Frank Lampard lost control in the dressing room whiles addressing the team.
The frustrating half-time against Arsenal plugged the Chelsea legend’s future in darkness.
In a game Frank Lampard needed to win to alleviate the growing pressure at Chelsea, he took the significant step of leaving the club’s biggest two summer signings out of the first XI. Was it a show of strength or asking for trouble?
Lampard has had a few of his managerial attributes questioned in some quarters of late following a run of three defeats in four games this month, but no one can doubt his bravery against Aston Villa.
It was a big call to name Germany internationals Timo Werner and Kai Havertz on the substitutes bench even if there were mitigating and understandable circumstances.
Werner, who had started every Premier League game up to this point, has been looking tired and short of confidence following a run of 10 matches without a goal. Meanwhile, Havertz, who has not started the last three league matches, has suffered from the after-effects of contracting COVID-19 as well as struggling to adapt to the Premier League.