Leed manager Marcelo Bielsa reveals no problem between him and Frank Lampard despite 'Spy-gate' controversy

In 2018/19, the Leeds manager sent an intern to spy on Derby County's training session.

Frank Lampard, who managed the Rams back then, was not at all pleased with Bielsa.

The latter now claims that their relationship is not any different than ones between Bielsa and any other head coach.

"It is not bad. The relationship I have with him is similar to the ones I have with the rest of my colleagues," Marcelo Bielsa said about his relationship with Frank Lampard.

"It was resolved by the authorities at the time, how these actions need to be punished. They were analysed by people who needed to analyse them.

"During last season he developed a lot of players that were already at the club and this season he has improved his team by choosing players for the positions he deemed he needed," the Leeds manager added.

"This is shown by the way the team is playing well. There are many different types of components in his team. There are young players who have developed, and there were signings with experience and signings with a big future."

In January 2019, Marcelo Bielsa was fined £200,000 for sending an intern to spy on Frank Lampard's Derby County training session. Lampard was not at all pleased with the Argentine's conduct which made his win over Leeds in the Championship play-off all the sweeter.

Now, their encounter will add spice to the first Premier League clash between the two historic rivals since 2004, the year when Leeds were relegated from the Premier League. Back then, Frank Lampard featured in Chelsea's 1-0 win over Leeds on the last matchday of the season.