Frank Lampard and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first meeting could be the beginning of a lesson in the value of nostalgia
When Chelsea visit Old Trafford on Sunday, a combination of nostalgia and muted expectations will be the makings of an unfamiliar atmosphere between the two giants.
From Jose Mourinho’s arrival in summer 2004 until Sergio Aguero’s last-gasp winner at Loftus Road in 2012, Chelsea and Manchester United were the only two teams to taste Premier League glory, regularly battling for top spot.
As Frank Lampard and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer face off for the first time, they will serve as bittersweet reminders to their clubs of the glory days they enjoyed as players.
Sentimental appointments
When a top Premier League side recruits a new manager, sought-after candidates typically possess an international pedigree cultivated through years of managerial success.
Solskjaer and Lampard aren’t products of that tried and tested hiring process, but appointments that owe a debt to sentimentality. Clubs seek the poetry of a fan hero resuscitating the team from a low ebb, recreating his glory days from the dugout.
Read more: Football’s head injury policy is still flawed despite warnings
Lampard was the beneficiary of a desperate situation, hired knowing that Chelsea faced a two-window transfer ban and the loss of star player Eden Hazard. Other managers could have been forgiven for seeing the job as a poisoned chalice.
But Lampard, despite his inexperience, may have been the safest option available for Chelsea. After all, who better to keep the fans on side during a difficult period than a man so deeply revered?
Reclaiming lost identity
Solskjaer may be granted less patience. His magnificent start as caretaker boss last season ground to a halt once he was given the job permanently. Before the official appointment, his United won 14 in 19 games. Afterwards, they won two in ten.
Notably, his initial success was attributed to harnessing his former mentor Sir Alex Ferguson’s spirit and style, recapturing the identity that was lost during years of dour, defensive football following the Scot’s departure.
Solskjaer’s focus on purchasing home-grown talent is another ode to Ferguson. How big-money signings Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire adjust to top-club football is crucial in determining the success of the Norwegian’s rebuild.
Equally important is whether Solskjaer can galvanise a faltering United attack. With Romelu Lukaku departing and having only youngster Daniel James signed, Solskjaer needs one of Anthony Martial or Alexis Sanchez to recapture form to complement Marcus Rashford.
Goalscoring will also be a key remit for Lampard. Chelsea have lacked a lethal striker since Diego Costa’s departure and may pin their hopes on Tammy Abraham, who spent last season on loan in the Championship. He scored 25 league goals for Aston Villa last term, but whether he can be effective at a club as big as Chelsea is another question.
Sunday’s fixture may not be decisive, but it promises a fascinating insight into whether Lampard and Solskjaer have the tactical nous to manage the big games. Both managers’ lack of experience is one of many well-documented obstacles they’ll face. If Lampard or Solskjaer cannot navigate them, this season will be an interesting lesson in the value of nostalgia, and how much time it affords a club legend.
Main image credit: Getty