Did Lampard mean this? Yes. Almost certainly.
Derby County’s promotion hopes are hanging by a thread.
Beaten at home by Leeds United in the first leg of their play-off semi-final, they must win at Elland Road on Wednesday to keep their chances of a top flight return alive.
During the game at Pride Park, Derby and their manager Frank Lampard were taunted by Leeds fans about the ‘Spy-gate’ incident which dominated headlines before and after their league meeting in January with a brand new chant.
Leeds were later hit with a £200,000 for their misconduct. Marcelo Bielsa, who openly admitted he had sanctioned the spying mission, paid the fine out of his own pocket.
Lampard was particularly outspoken about the incident at the time, and was asked ahead of the second leg what he thought about the Leeds support’s witty new chant.
He used the opportunity to poke fun at the Yorkshire club’s long stint away from the top flight.
“It’s good fun,” the former England midfielder said. “As a Chelsea player, there was a rivalry always with Leeds. We didn’t play them that much because we were in the Premier League, but that comes with it.
“I will take a song all day long. My worry is what the players do on the pitch.”
Leeds last played in the Premier League in the 2003/2004 season, when Lampard was a Chelsea player. This campaign represents their best chance in years to return to the top flight.
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