Chelsea’s Carabao Cup clash with Derby County was more than just a cup tie for Frank Lampard and whatever managerial test was put before the former Blues vice-captain, he passed with flying colors.
Lampard shaped his side up to attack and without the ball, press Chelsea to submission and at times gave the Premier League giants more trouble than anticipated. Derby were at times looking like a top-flight side with their ambition and passing.
Both of Chelsea’s first two goals were as a result of an own goal by the Rams and had it not been for that, Maurizio Sarri’s side could have been in bigger trouble. It was not until the first part of the second half, that Chelsea actually looked comfortable with and without the ball, although the final 10 minutes produced nail-biting moments.
Lampard ensured his side never sat deep even against one of the best passing sides in the Premier League this season. Sarri looks comfortable at Stamford Bridge so far, but history shows his clock began ticking the moment he signed the dotted lines at the Bridge. Lampard’s names will certainly spring up somewhere during discussions at the highest level of recruitment when the manager job becomes vacant in the future.
