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Chelsea: Three key clashes as fans return to Stamford Bridge for Leeds

By Travis Tyler

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 05: Frank Lampard, Manager of Chelsea gives instructions during the FA Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge on January 05, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 05: Frank Lampard, Manager of Chelsea gives instructions during the FA Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge on January 05, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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LEEDS, ENGLAND – MAY 15: Frank Lampard, Manager of Derby County gives his team instructions during the Sky Bet Championship Play-off semi final second leg match between Leeds United and Derby County at Elland Road on May 15, 2019 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
LEEDS, ENGLAND – MAY 15: Frank Lampard, Manager of Derby County gives his team instructions during the Sky Bet Championship Play-off semi final second leg match between Leeds United and Derby County at Elland Road on May 15, 2019 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) /

Chelsea will face historical and personal rivals in Leeds United just in time for fans to return to Stamford Bridge. What key clashes will they see?

Fans have not been in the stadium since Chelsea smacked Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton. That was a whole life ago but now, slowly but (hopefully) surely, things are changing again. A small group of fans will be allowed into Stamford Bridge for the first time in eons and it starts with a massive historical rival in Leeds. What key clashes will determine the fate of the match?

1. Frank Lampard versus Marcelo Bielsa

Leeds is not just a historical rival of course; they are a personal rival. Between spygate and Lampard denying Bielsa a first season promotion, there is sure to be some heat going into this one. Unfortunately, it might only be coming from the Blue side of the dugout.

Lampard versus Bielsa is a lot like Lampard versus Jose Mourinho, albeit with the roles reversed. The rivalry means more to Mourinho because he isn’t the one pulling out on top. It is much the same for Lampard and Bielsa. Though Lampard got the last laugh the last time the two played, the fallout from spygate came down almost exclusively on the wronged party by the end of it. That will surely irk Lampard and even though he is at the better job with the better team, he will be treating this match like an underdog.

Is that good or bad? It depends. So long as Chelsea continue to do the things they have been doing, it doesn’t really matter how they got there. But if Lampard lets himself and his side get lured in with trying to do a tit for tat with Leeds, well one side has much more practice at that than the other. Lampard will want to see the bigger picture and Bielsa, despite everything, shouldn’t be in frame for more than a matchday.

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