In his first game back as Chelsea’s interim manager, Frank Lampard suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium[2]. Lampard returned to Chelsea as caretaker manager, hoping to turn the club’s fortunes around for the remainder of the season[5].
However, Wolves, led by Julen Lopetegui, had other plans, as they continued their unbeaten streak against Chelsea, which now extends to three matches[3]. Matheus Nunes stole the show with a stunning first-half volley, lifting Wolves four spots higher in the Premier League standings[2].
Despite Lampard’s return to the Chelsea dugout, his team failed to secure a victory, adding to their recent struggles at Molineux. Chelsea had not won either of their last two league visits since their 5-2 victory in September 2019 when Lampard was in charge during his first stint as manager[3].
The match was preceded by a press conference where Lampard addressed the media after being appointed as Chelsea’s caretaker manager for the remainder of the season[7]. His appointment came as a surprise after a quick development in the story, allowing the Chelsea hierarchy more time to make a decision regarding their next full-time appointment[7].
As the season progresses, Lampard will need to quickly adjust and find a way to turn Chelsea’s fortunes around, with only nine Premier League matches remaining[5].