Chelsea’s old guard couldn’t live with Bayern. Lampard must decide if his youth stars can rescue tie

Chelsea’s old guard couldn’t live with Bayern Munich… Frank Lampard opted for experience against the Bavarians but it failed to pay off. Now he must decide whether his youth brigade can rescue this tie in Bavaria

  • Chelsea were comprehensively beaten by Bayern in the Champions League 
  • The Germans romped to a 3-0 first leg lead against the Blues at Stamford Bridge 
  • Frank Lampard went for experience with an average age of 28 against Bayern
  • But Chelsea struggled to cope with them as they shifted through the gears
  • Lampard’s young guns have shown they are capable of producing this season
  • Now the manager must decide who he trusts to rescue the tie in the second leg

They say football can put years on you; judging by his team selection Frank Lampard doesn’t necessarily believe that’s a bad thing.

During the most crucial four days of his reign at Chelsea, the manager’s decision to lean on his senior players represents something of a change in direction.

Against Tottenham on Saturday, the average of Chelsea’s starting XI was 28 years and 171 days – the oldest team Lampard has selected in the Premier League thus far.

Chelsea’s team against Bayern featured several experienced names such as Marcus Alonso

But Frank Lampard's men were undone by the German side and have work to do after a 3-0 loss

But Frank Lampard’s men were undone by the German side and have work to do after a 3-0 loss

In contrast, in their 1-0 win at Ajax in October – arguably Lampard’s most impressive night since returning to the club – the average age of his team was 25 years and 71 days.

Lampard probably feels three years older after Tuesday night’s comprehensive loss to Bayern Munich.

His decision to name an unchanged team was understandable given the 2-1 win over his old boss Jose Mourinho at the weekend.

And for 45 minutes it worked a treat as Chelsea’s old guard mustered every trick in the book to keep Bayern at bay.

The Blues couldn't contain Bayern for long as the Bundesliga side ran riot at Stamford Bridge

The Blues couldn’t contain Bayern for long as the Bundesliga side ran riot at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea's young guns beat Ajax 1-0 in October in arguably Lampard's most impressive night

Chelsea’s young guns beat Ajax 1-0 in October in arguably Lampard’s most impressive night

Matteo Kovacic gave Kingsley Coman the warmest of Stamford Bridge welcomes with a wrap round the back of the ankles inside the first 15 seconds.

Olivier Giroud won a free kick when backing into Jerome Boateng when referee Clement Turpin should have awarded Bayern the foul moments later.

Soon after Willy Caballero sat patiently on the deck, much to the visitors’ frustration, for treatment to delay a Bayern corner kick. Streetwise to say the least.

Yet, when the Germans shifted through the gears in the second-half; Chelsea simply couldn’t live with them. In fairness, any team – whatever age – would have had trouble thwarting Bayern’s blistering attacks.

With games against Liverpool and the second leg at the Allianz Arena on the horizon, it’ll be interesting to see how Lampard’s team selections continue to evolve.

This isn’t by any means the end Chelsea’s youth experiment; Lampard and his assistant Jody Morris’ faith in the exuberant clutch of academy talent that have carried Chelsea’s fight so far this season with such refreshing swagger is immovable.

Lampard's recent reliance on experience is telling with the business end of the season arriving

Lampard’s recent reliance on experience is telling with the business end of the season arriving

Indeed, in the midst of Chelsea’s 30 somethings, Mason Mount and Reece James – certainly in the first half – looked like they hadn’t given the sizeable task of taming Bayern a seconds thought. Totally unfazed, totally undaunted, totally at home on the Champions League stage.

But as the business end of the season beings to unravel, Lampard’s recent reliance on experience is perhaps telling.

Thirty-three year old Olivier Giroud was selected ahead of the fit again 22-year-old Tammy Abraham, the club’s top goalscorer. Willy Caballero, 38, kept his place ahead of the world’s most expensive goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who is 13 years his junior.

Marcos Alonso, 29, was picked ahead of 25-year-old, Emerson Palmieri at left-wing back. There was no place at all in the match-day squad for central defender Fikayo Tomori, whose performances at the heart of Chelsea’s rearguard earlier in the season earned him an England cap.

The seasoned Olivier Giroud was picked over Tammy Abraham but couldn't make an impact

The seasoned Olivier Giroud was picked over Tammy Abraham but couldn’t make an impact

Lampard will argue that the absences of some of his fledglings have been enforced. That’s accurate: Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic were both unavailable as they edge towards full fitness following injury.

But you get the impression Lampard’s recent reliance on experience isn’t borne out of necessity.

Lampard’s played at the very top; he knows exactly what it takes to get over the line on these sort of nights. Nights that are often settled by the finest of margins. In the end, though, the margin between the teams on Tuesday night was pretty sizeable.

Unfortunately for Chelsea and Lampard, the irresistible second half Bayern blitz is likely to mean the margin between the sides will be too vast to bridge when they meet again next month.

But what Lampard must now decide is whether that night in Bavaria – as well as the race for Champions League qualification and FA Cup glory – is one for his Chelsea pensioners or Blues youth brigade.

Lampard has a decision to make over whether to unleash his youth brigade for the second leg

Lampard has a decision to make over whether to unleash his youth brigade for the second leg



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk