A View From The Bridge
Injury News: Star Chelsea trio could return for crucial FA cup showdown against Arsenal

N’Golo Kante and Willian among those could return to face Arsenal in the FA Cup final
Frank Lampard’s first season in charge of Chelsea has been a promising one that hints at much potential.
It could get even better when the Blues take on arch-rivals Arsenal in the FA Cup final this weekend. A win will not only bring Lampard’s first silverware as a manager but also put the cherry on top of what could be a pivotal season.
The best games require the best players. Lampard could be set to welcome back three stars who have been sidelined with injuries.

French World Cup winner N’Golo Kante has endured a difficult season that has been constantly interrupted by injuries. One of Chelsea’s best players, he has missed the last six games due to a hamstring injury.
According to Football.london, the Frenchman is expected to be fit in time for the Wembley showdown. Kante was able to train ahead of the clash against Wanderers last Sunday. However, he did not feature. But he could be in line to do so this weekend.
The 29-year-old has won a trophy in all three seasons at the club. His return will be considered a good omen by the superstitious folk in the fanbase.

The report goes on to add that Brazilian midfielder Willian too is recovering well and could be set to feature.
The 31-year-old’s future may be up in the air, but his contributions to the team cannot be overlooked. A player who has a habit of scoring important goals, he could prove pivotal against Arsenal.
Willian’s contract at Chelsea is nearing an end. According to his agent, he will make a call on his future after the final.

Mateo Kovacic has grown to be a key player for the Blues this campaign. The Croatian’s performances have been crucial, especially in the absence of Kante.
Kovacic was exemplary in the win over Wolves. He was seen sporting an ice pack after the game but is back in training and expected to be fit.
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A win will be Chelsea’s seventh in the competition. Lampard will join an elite list of footballers who won the prestigious trophy both as a player and a manager.
A View From The Bridge
Age no bar – Tuchel to keep Lampard’s project going by trusting Chelsea youngsters

Thomas Tuchel ready to make use of Chelsea youth by following in Lampard footsteps
According to the Daily Mail, new Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has expressed his willingness to make use of youth, following in the footsteps of Frank Lampard.
A number of Chelsea academy graduates stepped up to the first-team under Frank Lampard. With him now gone, there were concerns if they would see a decrease in playing time.
Tuchel, however, considers the likes of Mason Mount, Reece James and Tammy Abraham as key players. He will continue to make use of them as he looks to turn around the team’s fortunes.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was impressed by Lampard’s youth revolution. He has informed Tuchel that he expects it to continue under his reign. (h/t The Metro)
Tuchel has a good record of developing youth. Players such as Ousmane Dembele, Julian Weigl and even Christian Pulisic all made their names under him at Borussia Dortmund. This augurs well for the talented youngsters we have at the Bridge.

It is not just the junior stars who stand to benefit. Tuchel has already informed the squad that every player will be given a chance to prove themselves. (h/t The Metro)
This will provide a ray of hope to sidelines stars such as Marcos Alonso who got into Lampard’s bad books.
Chelsea will also back Tuchel in the summer transfer market. Among those in their sights is Dortmund ace Erling Haaland.

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As a much more experienced manager, Tuchel is expected to handle his squad better than Lampard. A master tactician, the German is an avid student of the game and can be a handful to go up against. After all, he is not nicknamed ‘The Professor’ for nothing.
A View From The Bridge
Report – Thomas Tuchel’s positive training ground message to Chelsea stars

Thomas Tuchel ready to give Chelsea stars a new lease of life
German manager Thomas Tuchel has now officially taken over the reins at Chelsea.
The 47-year-old arrives at Stamford Bridge with a stellar but volatile reputation. An experienced manager, he has managed massive egos and world-class players before.
Roman Abramovich made the tough decision of sacking club legend Frank Lampard after a poor run of results. With Tuchel now the man in charge, a new era is underway at the club.

According to The Metro, Tuchel has already informed his players in their first meeting that he is ready to give everyone a fair chance to prove their worth.
This will come as a relief to some stars who were sidelined by Lampard and looked to be on their way out. The 42-year-old was accused of favouritism during his time at the Bridge. (h/t The Telegraph) (Subscription Required)
Among the players to benefit from Tuchel’s ‘clean-slate’ approach could be Marcos Alonso, Antonio Rudiger, Jorginho, Emerson and even Andreas Christensen.

Tuchel has already praised Lampard for building a solid foundation at the club. With the tools he needs already at his disposal, the onus is now on the German to take the club forward. (h/t The Metro)
The move to Chelsea has also brought Tuchel in contact with former PSG skipper Thiago Silva. The duo was at the forefront of the French giants’ run to the 2020 Champions League final.

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It is heartening to know that Tuchel is willing to give every player a chance to prove themselves. Hopefully, they will make use of this opportunity and start contributing to a Chelsea resurgence.
Second chances come very rarely and Tuchel has offered them a rare opportunity at redemption. Whether they take it or not remains to be seen.
A View From The Bridge
“The legacy” – Tuchel sends classy message to former Chelsea boss Lampard

Thomas Tuchel pays tribute to Frank Lampard’s legacy at Chelsea
According to the club’s official site, new Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has paid tribute to his predecessor Frank Lampard after taking over at the Bridge on Tuesday.
The 47-year-old takes the reins of a club that is languishing in the ninth spot, just two months after they had gone top of the Premier League. Tuchel has signed an initial 18-month deal that can be extended by a year in the future.
Tuchel will not have to wait long to experience his baptism of fire. Chelsea take on Wolverhampton Wanderers tonight and the German manager will be put to test.

“We all have the greatest respect for Frank Lampard’s work and the legacy he created at Chelsea.”
Tuchel praised the legacy Lampard left behind at Chelsea. As a player and then manager, the Englishman served the club with distinction. The German also went on to admit his respect to his predecessor.
The 47-year-old takes the reins a month after being dismissed by PSG. The dismissal came just four months after he led them to their first-ever Champions League final.

Tuchel thanked Chelsea for putting their faith in him and his staff. He admits he cannot wait to begin working with the squad in what he calls the most exciting league in the world.
“I would like to thank Chelsea FC for their confidence in me and my staff.”
Unlike Lampard, Tuchel is not a novice in the management game. He made his name at Augsburg and Mainz before going on to manage Borussia Dortmund and PSG. The experience of having managed big names before will aid his cause at Chelsea.

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Club chief Marina Granovskaia too expressed her belief that Tuchel can lead the club to glory. She described him as one of the best coaches in Europe and is glad to have him at Chelsea.
Having been fired from his last two jobs, Tuchel too has a point to prove this time around. It would be fair to say that the club needs him as much as he needs it.
A View From The Bridge
Report – Tension between players led to Lampard losing his Chelsea job

Infighting was prevalent at Chelsea prior to Frank Lampard sacking
According to The Telegraph (Subscription Required), Infighting among the players was a common theme at Chelsea in the events leading up to Frank Lampard losing his job.
Tensions ran high, with skipper Cesar Azpilicueta and out of favour German international Antonio Rudiger clashing heads numerous times.
Azpilicueta attempted to ease tensions between players, with academy stars also said to have been upset at their treatment. There have been claims of favouritism under Lampard.

The likes of Rudiger, Marcos Alonso and Jorginho were all players Lampard was keen to be rid of. However, with the club unable to do so, he was forced to endure their presence in the squad.
All three have been said to have caused issues for Lampard prior to his sacking. Accusations of Lampard showing favouritism haven’t only been labelled by the youth players but also those from the first-team.
Lampard also struggled to get the best out of his expensive summer signings. In short, there appear to have been a myriad of issues behind the scenes.

Roman Abramovich grew unhappy over the performances of the expensively assembled team and decided it was time for a change. He can be given the benefit of the doubt considering Lampard has the lowest points per game ratio of any manager under his reign. (h/t Daily Mail)
Thomas Tuchel will now be entrusted to repair the friction within the squad and have the Blues pick up their performances on the field. Whether the German can do that remains to be seen.

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It would be fair to say that the Chelsea job came too soon for Lampard. A competent manager at Derby County, he was still learning the tricks of the trade at Pride Park.
While he did his best, Chelsea is a job that demands nothing short of glory. Whether he will make a glorious return in the future remains to be seen.