Frank Lampard outlines expectations from the Chelsea squad for next season

Frank Lampard thinks every Chelsea player should push to get in the starting XI as part of the barometer for next season

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard feels the standard-setting has to come at the start of next season with every player in the squad pushing for a place in the starting XI.

In recent memory, this has been the worst season this football club has endured (in terms of what was produced on the field by the men’s team).

Forgetting about winning any silverware, barring a miracle, the Blues are set to finish in the bottom half of the league table.

Although Lampard is currently managing the team on an interim basis and Mauricio Pochettino is set to take charge in the summer, here’s what the former said when asked what the barometer of this team needs to be next season (h/t Football.London):

“I think it’s hard to call them a direct barometer because when you say set standards, that’s a casual look at it. Standards have to start at the beginning. For me standards are every player that is in that squad is pushing to get into the team, the players know that they if they don’t have intensity and don’t run, the next man will come in and do it.

“That’s something to be worked on in terms of recruitment and how you build a squad and how you build a mentality. If that’s the barometer, there’s a lot of work to do for us here to try and get to that.”

Out of everything that needs to be done to get Chelsea where they should be, the incoming manager has to manage the squad count first. After buying 15 players in the last transfer windows, the Blues have just got too many players.

Now, while selling players is an obvious solution, Pochettino and his staff must get it right in terms of who to get rid of and who to keep ahead of the start of next season.

The new boss will have the benefit of not playing European football, meaning he would have most midweeks to work with the players and make them better for the challenges ahead.

More Chelsea News:

• Chelsea best Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund to sign Kendry Paez
• Chelsea deem Inter Milan’s asking price for Andre Onana too expensive
• Charlie Adam believes Mauricio Pochettino could send Mykhaylo Mudryk out on loan

The last time Chelsea did not have a European competition to contest in a season, they went on to lift the Premier League under Antonio Conte in 2017. Whether that is possible amidst the squad chaos and how high the standards are these days with Manchester City, we will wait and see on that.