Derby County boss Frank Lampard has praised Leeds United after their opening day win over Stoke City.
Derby County manager Frank Lampard has praised Leeds United ahead of his side’s match against them at the weekend.
The Rams welcome Leeds to Pride Park on Saturday evening for a Championship clash and both teams will be in good spirits after winning their opening league match.
Both are also under new management this season, with high-profile boss Marcelo Bielsa taking his first role in English football at Elland Road.
Meanwhile, ex-England and Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has taken up his first role in senior management with Derby and is expecting a difficult test at the weekend against Leeds.
“I thought they (Leeds) played very well against Stoke. In the first half, they were fantastic,” Lampard said in his per-match press conference, as quoted by Derbyshire Live.
“They’ve got some good players and have brought in one of the real ‘top of the tree’ managers (Marcelo Bielsa).
It will be an honour to go up against him and the challenge for me is can I pick a team that will get the better of his team?”
Bielsa is renowned for playing an expansive attacking style of football and the early stages of his time at Leeds suggests they will play in a similar way.
They were the far superior side against Stoke in their last match and will look for a repeat performance on the road.
Derby managed to beat Reading 2-1 in their season opener courtesy of a last-minute goal from Tom Lawrence.
The East Midlands club are expected to be competing at the top end of the table and getting one over on Leeds would be a decent statement.
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