Frank Lampard has expressed concerns that Chelsea’s youthful squad might hinder their progress under new manager Enzo Maresca, following their 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Sunday.
The Blues showcased an impressive performance in a 6-0 victory over Wolves last weekend but were brought back to reality with a 2-1 defeat to Servette in the Europa Conference League. Their inconsistency continued at Stamford Bridge on Sunday when Nicolas Jackson put them ahead, only for Eberechi Eze to equalize in the second half.
Lampard believes that the combination of a new manager and several new signings still adjusting to the team will inevitably lead to inconsistent performances, especially with a young squad.
“Inconsistency will be there—young players bring that,” Lampard said on Match of the Day 2. “When Chelsea are on top, they might not be clinical enough, and the game can swing against them. You wonder if a lack of experience through the spine of the team isn’t there, and you’ll have to wait for that, but there’s certainly a lot of talent.”
Despite these concerns, Lampard remains optimistic about the team’s future under Maresca, noting a positive shift from the negative atmosphere during his own second stint as Chelsea manager.
“Enzo Maresca mentioned today that they aren’t the same team that won the Champions League, and he is right,” Lampard added. “Eighteen months ago, it felt like a really low point because it didn’t feel like the club it had been, which was so successful for 20 years. But now, they are on an upward curve. There will be good days and bad days due to the squad’s youth, but there’s a lot of talent, and if they can keep improving, especially in attack, they can challenge any team.”
Chelsea will aim to return to winning form after the international break when they face Bournemouth on the south coast.
