Lost Hazard, Chelsea’s best player, couldn’t sign anyone because of the transfer ban - wouldn’t call that an easy ride.
He’s put his faith in Abraham and Mount, seems to be getting a song out of Giroud. Players seem to want to play for him.
Obviously a player of his stature is going to get a bit of a head start, that’s natural
Look at hazard now
Chelsea had already secured a replacement in pulisic. No doubt they would have been aware of their impending investigation into them and subsequent ban so they acted fast probably cos they had promised hazard to let him leave. He inherited a squad that won last season's EL and qualified for cl football via a top 4 league position.
Returning to the club were 4 fully seasoned academy players who had at least one full season out on loan regularly getting first team football. Some were on their 2nd loan spell.
He even personally managed two of these players the season before so he's walked in knowing the full abilities of mount and tomori. James was Wigan's POTS that season and Abraham I think was championship top goal scorer in his 3rd season on loan.
With all this in mind, taking up the role as Chelsea manager, he's hardly short due to the transfer ban. Infact it's more been like lost one and gained 5 players.
Finishing with cl qualification is finishing on par to where Chelsea and the playing personal should be. Not over achieving or under achieving.
He seems to get a lot of credit for blooding these younger players in but apart from mount they have all been in and out the squad. When in all honesty his hand was kinda forced with the ban. Was he lucky to stumble across their success or would it have happened anyways if there was no ban. We'll never know.
Can't ignore the defensive issues, the goals conceded column speaks for itself as they all can't be blamed on kepa.
Lampard has done a decent job in his rookie season as a pl manager but nomination for manager of the season is a joke. The likes dyche or even Bruce deserve if more than he does