Frank Lampard last took charge of Chelsea in the Champions League in December 2020 and has a brand new team tasked with beating champions Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Lampard's last game in the Champions League is against Krasnador in December 2020
Lampard's last game in the Champions League is against Krasnador in December 2020
It will be 855 days since Frank Lampard last stood in a Champions League game when the Chelsea boss and his new side tasked with toppling Real Madrid were unrecognizable.
Lampard has a big challenge to revive his half-baked side against the European champions and Saturday's narrow loss to Wolves - albeit just days after taking charge - has helped solidify little confidence level ahead of Wednesday's trip to the Bernabeu.
Thomas Tuchel credits Lampard for 'laying the groundwork' for European glory in 2021 as the German won the final award after the club legend was sacked mid-season.
But while Lampard is already familiar with his surroundings and some of the players, the dynamics of the team are completely different from what he is building at Stamford Bridge.
He's harking back to a tumultuous new era at Cobham with new owners accepting costly new signings but seemingly lacking long-term vision. The final Champions League game that Lampard led was a deadly group stage game against Russian side Krasnodar, as Chelsea had reached the knockout stages.
The second squad included 10 changes and the first starters for teenager Tino Anjorin - now on loan at Huddersfield Town - as well as Billy Gilmour and Timo Werner, who have since left.
But the contrast in Graham Potter's successor to Lampard's first team at Chelsea was most evident in the previous Champions League match, a 4-0 win over Sevilla.
Olivier Giroud beat the performance on the night of December 2020 with all four goals in a powerful three-man attack alongside Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Now hungry to score, Lampard is now expected to rely on new faces Raheem Sterling and Joao Felix to help Chelsea keep the level at Madrid. Chelsea now do not have a recognized goalscorer like Olivier Giroud
Chelsea now do not have a recognized goalscorer like Olivier Giroud
Kai Havertz has been largely unknown for most of the season and his efforts are indicative of a brutal attack from Chelsea.
But the German started in a three-man midfield in Chelsea's last Champions League win under Lampard at Sevilla, and could once again be aided in promotion in Spain.
Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic were Lampard's three favorite midfield options in his previous regimen and started one of his team's most convincing wins over Sevilla.
Kovacic could once again line up alongside a favorite of Lampard's back at Mason Mount, when it is also the kind of nightclub record signing Enzo Fernandez is expected to prove his worth.
And that will all change in defence, with Cesar Azpilicueta still sidelined with a head injury in February and Kepa will start ahead of the return of Eduoard Mendy. Lampard needs Havertz to find form against Los Blancos
Lampard needs Havertz to find form against Los Blancos
Two seasons ago, Lampard used Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen as his preferred centre-backs, but summer signings Wesley Fofana and Kalidou Koulibaly will likely be tasked with preventing Madrid from reaching the Bernabeu.
Rudiger has barely appeared under Lampard but has helped Tuchel conquer Europe when he is gone and will now look to make a clear statement with a win over his former club for Los Blancos. Meanwhile, Christensen has joined Barcelona on a free transfer.
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