‘If I look back’… Frank Lampard makes fresh claim about Leeds United during his time as Derby manager

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Frank Lampard has opened up more on how he felt when his Derby County side beat Leeds United in the play-offs back in 2019.

The Whites had firmly been in control of the tie after going 2-0 up on aggregate in the first half of the second leg, having taken a 1-0 lead from the first match at Pride Park.

However, a calamitous mix-up on the stroke of half-time from Liam Cooper and Kiko Casilla enabled Derby to get back into the tie, and from there, it all just unravelled for Leeds.

Leeds and Lampard had struck up somewhat of a rivalry that season following the ‘Spy-Gate’ debacle a few months earlier, and so it is fair to say he did not hold back in his celebrations at full-time.

Speaking on the latest episode of the ‘Stick to Football Podcast’, Lampard claims wins like that as a manger – against a side who he believes was better than his – gave him more ‘fulfilment’ than anything he won in his playing days.

Lampard says Leeds win more fulfilling than playing days

He said: “If I look back through my managerial career I have had big wins which have given me more fulfilment than any of my playing days. Fortunately enough I won stuff in my playing days, whether it was because of Drogba or me, or John Terry. I was in a great squad.

“But when you are the manager you feel the responsibility of getting Derby to the play off final, we beat Leeds who were probably a better team than us. You feel the extent of it.”

Lampard will have no doubt got more fulfilment from this match due to the rivalry that developed between the two clubs that season. He was less than impressed when Marcelo Bielsa’s ‘spying’ came to light.

Ultimately, though, it clearly did not matter half as much to Bielsa, who was then asked about his relationship with Lampard ahead of a match against Chelsea in the Premier League.

It will certainly be interesting whether Lampard gets another opportunity in the world of management. Aside from a caretaker spell at Chelsea last year, his last proper job was at Everton a year ago.