Frank Lampard ‘has Coventry City excuse ready’ ahead of Leeds United match
Frank Lampard is getting his excuses in early ahead of Coventry City hosting Leeds United in their Championship clash on Wednesday.
Speaking to Coventry’s club website (1 February), Lampard bemoaned the “not ideal” rearrangement of United’s trip to the West Midlands, brought forward by three days due to their FA Cup tie with Millwall.
Coventry and the Whites have had the exact same recovery time leading into Wednesday’s match, having both kicked off at 3pm on Saturday as Coventry beat Swansea and Leeds hit Cardiff for seven.
Lampard said: “[The rearranged date] wasn’t ideal for us but it is what it is. Sometimes the Championship throws up heavy schedules so we will manage it as best as we can and take all these games on.
“Performances are good and they’re going on well but the minute those standards drop that won’t continue.”
Leeds United can’t afford Frank Lampard slip-up v Coventry
It’s just over six years to the day since Lampard forever earned himself ignominy with the entire United fanbase, after the ‘Spygate’ saga which was instigated by the then-Derby County boss in January 2019.
Lampard has been a pariah in the eyes of the Elland Road faithful ever since, with the media all too happy to pit the former Chelsea player and the Peacocks’ legendary manager Marcelo Bielsa as adversaries.
United renew rivalries with Lampard several years since both managers moved on from their spells at Pride Park and Elland Road, as Daniel Farke looks to extend his side’s lead at the Championship summit.
Coming off the back of their 7-0 mauling of Cardiff – the Whites’ biggest victory since 1972 – Farke will be keen to ensure standards don’t drop against a Coventry side firmly in the promotion hunt themselves.
Leeds’ lack of activity in the transfer market has put something of a dampener on their current run of form, but another win on Wednesday – and getting one over on Lampard – will be cause for celebration.
In other Leeds news, Jon Newsome mentioned his surprise at the “big risk” United have taken in the transfer window.
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