Willian has predicted that Chelsea will be able to “win titles” this season under the guidance of Frank Lampard. Lampard was surprisingly appointed as manager of the Blues in July after Maurizio Sarri resigned and took up the role of Juventus manager. Surprisingly, in resigning, Sarri became the first full-time manager during the Roman Abramovich era to not be sacked.
As reported by Sky Sports, Willian said: “I think Chelsea can win some titles this season. I know it will be hard this season to win titles, as usual, it is always hard.
“It is difficult when you lose players like David Luiz, Eden Hazard, but we have some quality young players here who can improve a lot and in the future become one of the best players in the league. I think we have a great team.
“But Chelsea is a big club and this shirt is heavy. When Chelsea go into a competition we go to win.
“It does not matter the players, it does not matter the coach, every year we want to win something, and I think this year we can do it again.”
Lampard’s appointment naturally raised eyebrows due to his managerial inexperience as well as the fact that he has to navigate the club through a difficult period considering that they face a two window transfer ban. The transfer ban meant that the Blues could not sign a direct replacement for Eden Hazard and it also meant that the likes of Willian, Olivier Giroud and Pedro will have to now play big roles for the club this season in spite of the trio being past their peak. Had the transfer ban not happened, it is likely that Giroud and perhaps even one of Pedro or Willian may have left the club during the summer and been replaced by a younger individual.
Willian’s claims may be a bit too optimistic
The Blues have so far not exactly played an attractive brand of football. Even their first win of the new Premier League season was against newly promoted Norwich City and that was a close game as they prevailed 3-2. Team’s which want to challenge for the Premier League should be beating newly promoted sides convincingly.
It will be a major achievement if the West London club manages to attain a top four finish this season and a top six finish will not be too bad either. Regardless of what happens this season, it will not be fair to use the outcome of this season as a gauge of Lampard’s managerial ability. The club legend can only be fairly critiqued from next season.
