Yes, it’s early days yet, but Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United are starting to look the real deal
Having humbled Stoke City 3-1 in their Championship opener at Elland Road last week, Leeds followed it with an impressive 4-1 victory over Derby away at Pride Park.
In truth, it was a devastating show of attacking football from Bielsa’s men, who took the lead through Mateusz Klich inside five minutes. Although an impressive free-kick from Tom Lawrence drew the Rams level minutes later, two goals either side of half-time from Kemar Roofe and another from Ezgjan Alioski secured the points.
It was a difficult day for Bielsa’s opposite number, Frank Lampard, who is still in his early weeks as a manager. Despite starting with a win at Reading last week, this result will have been a tough one to take for the Chelsea legend.
Lampard called time on his playing days in February of 2017. In between then and taking the Derby job, he made numerous appearances as a pundit – impressing during his appearances on BT Sport’s coverage of the Champions League and FA Cup last season and at the World Cup with the BBC.
Shortly after Leeds’ penultimate goal of the game, Gary Lineker, who worked with Lampard at both the BT and the BBC, jokingly suggested he might be better off returning to his role as a pundit.
‘Leeds are 3-1 up at Derby,’ Lineker tweeted. ‘BT Sport’s Champions League coverage starts again in mid September if you’re interested Frank?’
Leeds are 3-1 up at Derby. @btsport’s Champions League coverage starts again in mid September if you’re interested Frank?
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) August 11, 2018
Lampard’s next game in charge of Derby sees them take on Oldham Athletic in the League Cup. They return to league action next weekend, when they visit Millwall.
