Former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda has pleaded for patience with manager Frank Lampard. Lampard was appointed at the beginning of the season to replace Juventus bound Mauricio Sarri. The Italian left his post to return to Italy with Juventus after just a year at Stamford Bridge. The Italian led Chelsea to 4th place finish and a Europa league trophy.
Lampard has got to work with available resources as the club were serving a two-window transfer ban. Lampard will also have to do without the club’s best player for years, Eden Hazard. Chelsea were unable to add new arrivals in the summer and the new manager who just left Derby County was forced to work with little resources. Academy graduates and players returning from their respective loans were the options available to Lampard.
Lampard has since enjoyed mixed results since taking over. After a shaky start to the season. Chelsea enjoyed a good run of form as they went on a six-game winning streak between October and November. They were billed for an unlikely title push before their match against Manchester City in November. A match they lost 2-1. The club has remained in the mix to make the top four. They occupy the final champions league spot in the league with Manchester United just 3 points behind.
Chelsea had their ban halved by court of Arbitration for Sport in December and the club was expected to add new arrivals, but the winter transfer window ended without any arrivals, much to the frustration of the manager, who said his side is now at disadvantage in the race to make top four.
Malouda, 39, who made 149 league appearances for Chelsea stated that the club should be patient with Lampard, adding that he deserves a proper transfer window before any judgement could be passed on his tenure at the club.
The club has got a list of top targets in the summer, the likes of Jadon Sancho and Lautaro Martinez have all been linked with the club.