“You can’t win anything with kids," once said Alan Hansen… Arise Frank Lampard and Jody Morris.
The 2019/20 season will be bookmarked in the Chelsea history books for generations to come. A season that saw the Blues’ greatest-ever player take centre stage, spearhead and lead a youthful, inexperienced and doubted squad all the way to Champions League qualification.
No Eden Hazard. A transfer ban. The odds were instantly pilled against Lampard the moment he stepped foot into Cobham Training Ground.
Before the Premier League had even started, Lampard’s ability was questioned and queried; “I don’t think Chelsea will get top four,” said Jamie Carragher.
“If you think Lampard should finish in the top four and win a cup then you’re deluded,” said Jamie Redknapp.
Here we are. A top-four finish and an incredible FA Cup final run.
Not only has Lampard drastically exceeded expectations having taken helm in South West London, he has also implemented a new, fresh and exciting culture. A bridge has been built between the youth academy and the first team – something no other manager of late has been able to achieve.
The Blues’ 2019/20 season was far from perfect. It was erratic at times but sprinkled with glimpses of occult and éclat.
With Lampard at the wheel, Chelsea’s ship has endured the unmerciful peaks and troughs of the Premier League, leaving fans with illustrious memories.
Story of the Season: Against the odds
On the 9th August 2019, 24 BBC Sport pundits made their top four predictions. Just six of them envisaged Chelsea finishing in the top four, three of the six having Chelsea pedigree.
Just two days later the Blues suffered a 4-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford, foreshadowing a season where Chelsea’s defensive frailties would be under the spotlight.
Lampard’s side then travelled to Istanbul to face Liverpool in the UEFA Super Cup. The Blues waltzed stride-for-stride with Liverpool deep into the summer’s night before settling for the dreaded penalty shootout…
Chelsea left the Vodafone Park stadium empty-handed but it was a game that gave Lampard hope. The Blues proved that they can compete against the best of the best.
The Pensioners then went the next four games unbeaten, scoring eleven goals spearheaded by the Chelsea youngsters; seven goals from Tammy Abraham, three goals from Mason Mount and a goal from Fikayo Tomori.
Abraham was paramount to the Blues’ early form in the season, scoring ten goals in his opening eleven Premier League games. Hitman.
On matchday twelve, Chelsea welcomed Crystal Palace to the Bridge which would see Lampard field the Premier League’s youngest starting XI of the season to date – a younger side was then fielded later in the season by Manchester United and Arsenal.
Goals from Abraham and Christian Pulisic wrapped up a 2-0 win over the Eagles, the Blues' sixth win in a row.
After a fairly impressive first half of the season, Chelsea (32) sat in fourth place just six points behind Manchester City (38). Leicester City (39) were second behind front-runners and FIFA Club World Cup Champions Liverpool (52).
The Blues were on target for Champions League qualification, however, Chelsea’s lack of defensive prowess and leadership took the limelight away from the incredible job Lampard and his staff were doing.
On matchday 28, with just ten Premier League games remaining, the Blues dropped two points to relegation fighting Bournemouth in what was a disappointing 2-2 draw at the Vitality Stadium.
At this stage, Chelsea remained in fourth place but could see Manchester United and Wolves propelling at a tremendous velocity in their rear-view mirror. The battle for top four was merciless and unforgiving. The race was well and truly on.
The final game of the season. The knockout blow. The season decider.
Prior to kick-off, the Red Devils sat third (63), the Blues were fourth (63) and the Foxes in fifth (62). An impassioned conclusion with unrelenting pressure to succeed. All or nothing…
The Foxes faced the Red Devils and the Blues faced Wolves. The odds were on Chelsea’s side.
The Blues defeated Wolves 2-0, meanwhile, Ole Gunnar Solskjær followed suit brushing aside Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester 2-0.
United finished third, Chelsea fourth and Leicester fifth. A rollercoaster of a season brought to a close in astonishing fashion.
Transfer business
Hazard will go down as one of the Premier League’s all-time greatest players having spearheaded an entire era under the lights at the Bridge. The enchanted number ten played 352 times for the Blues, winning six major trophies and contributing towards 202 goals.
Hazard had played a direct hand in 49% of all Chelsea goals in his final season, leaving behind a massive void even the greatest players would struggle to fill.
As his reign came to a close, Hazard swapped the red buses of London for the Plaza de Oriente of Madrid. Having conquered England, Hazard went on to conquer Spain, winning La Liga Santander in his debut season for Real Madrid under the guidance of Zinedine Zidane.
One of the Premier League’s greatest of all-time…
With Lampard’s hands tied in the transfer market, the only signing Chelsea were able to make was the £40million arrival of Mateo Kovacic from Los Blancos. What a signing it was as well.
A wizard on the ball. The Croatian’s signature body feints, lavish flicks and rottweiler-like tenacity. Kovacic has had a great season in the Premier League, following the appointment of Lampard, and has proven himself to be one of the best midfielders in the league. Has Kovacic filled the void? No, not entirely, but with Kovacic in the team alongside Pulisic, the Blues are a much stronger outfit with an aura of invincibility.
He has cemented himself in the Blues' midfield alongside the likes of Jorginho and N’Golo Kante. His tireless work rate and drive to pull the team up the pitch has become ever more appreciated at Stamford Bridge.
The 26-year-old has completed more successful dribbles this season than any other player in the top six; his ’mazy’ runs, acceleration off the ball and intelligent quick passing earns him a place in Lampard’s starting eleven week in, week out.
Player of the Season
Chelsea VAVEL Player of the Season has been awarded to Kovacic. The midfielder won the award with an astounding eleven votes submitted by our writers. Mount came second with six votes.
The three-time Champions League winner has been an integral piece of Lampard’s puzzle and will no doubt continue to flourish next season alongside the abundance of world-class summer signings.
Young Player of the Season
Having finished second in our POTS votes, Mount has won the Chelsea VAVEL Young Player of the Season award with ten votes.
Mount has epitomised Lampard’s philosophy having featured under his manager at Derby County; his perpetual pressing, exquisite technical ability and unmatched attitude to play whatever position is demanded of him.
Most Improved Player During 'Project Restart'
At the start of the season, no one expected the last Premier League game to have been played in July.
Since the birth of #ProjectRestart launched by the Premier League, a campaign to kick-off the return of football, Pulisic has debatably been the best performing player in English football.
The 21-year-old American has taken the Premier League by storm, scoring nine goals and assisting six in just 25 appearances where he has averaged 69 minutes a game. Not only has Pulisic put his stamp on English football so soon upon arrival from Borussia Dortmund, he has been likened to the great Hazard – a saving grace.
Christian Pulisic and Eden Hazard’s first Premier League season compared.
— LDN (@LDNFootbalI) July 25, 2020
Sky is the limit @cpulisic_10 💎 pic.twitter.com/dhmm8o2qWH
An honourable mention must be given to Olivier Giroud. The French hitman has led the Blues’ attack superbly since the restart and often been the difference.
Four in four for @_OlivierGiroud_! 🔥#CHEWOL pic.twitter.com/sZg75VKnUF
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 26, 2020
Giroud’s valiant efforts must not go unnoticed after his six league goals as well as prodigious performances in the FA Cup semi-final and final.
Goal of the Season
Chelsea VAVEL’s Goal of the Season award goes to Fikayo Tomori for his enthralling strike in the Blues’ 5-2 win over Wolves. A goal you could just watch again, again and again…
Tomori’s goal vs Wolves. 🔥😱 pic.twitter.com/vu9CuRO7RO
— Chelsea FC News (@Chelsea_FL) September 14, 2019