Seeing Frank Lampard and Cesc Fabregas getting on completely effectively on TV collectively can have sparked recollections of when the 2 former midfielders have been fierce rivals on the pitch – to the purpose that they as soon as squared as much as each other throughout a sport with Lampard was bought by Chelsea to keep away from friction with Fabregas.
The BBC Euro 2024 pundits have been each on obligation for Portugal’s late victory over the Czech Republic on Tuesday night, however didn’t precisely see eye-to-eye after they have been on the pitch collectively.
It began in a bad-tempered 2007 League Cup last, when Arsenal’s Fabregas was 19 (Lampard is ten years his senior).
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Cesc Fabregas and Frank Lampard had a number of on-pitch clashes of their enjoying days
After a large-scale altercation broke out between the 2 sides on the Millennium Stadium, the 2 broke into their very own mini-scuffle and needed to be rapidly separated. Lampard and Fabregas clashed once more 11 months later after tempers flared once more between different gamers.
Previous tensions got here to the fore once more within the outstanding Barcelona vs Chelsea Champions League semi-final second-leg encounter that triggered Gary Neville to make a really troubling noise as Fernando Torres received it on mixture for the ten-man Blues late on.
Lampard admitted to BT Sport that his shock transfer to Manchester CIty in 2014 took place as a result of then-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho felt he couldn’t co-exist with new signing Fabregas.
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Lampard mentioned: “We by no means performed collectively… they let me go to get Cesc in. Me and Cesc by no means actually received on effectively on the pitch so that they didn’t suppose we may share a dressing room.”
The Englisman was magnanimous about it, nevertheless, saying upon his departure from Chelsea: “I would hate to place stress on him. What I’ve carried out at Chelsea won’t ever change. I hope they do effectively – Cesc and myself have had our battles previously however I want him the very best as a result of I want Chelsea all the very best.”
Fortunately, Fabregas revealed to the Telegraph in 2020 that the pair had mended fences since hanging up their boots, having shared a TV studio on quite a few events beginning with the 2018 World Cup.
Frank Lampard and Cesc Fabregas of Barcelona battle for the ball throughout the Champions League Semi Ultimate, 2012 (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Fabregas mentioned: “I believe he’ll inform you an identical factor. We’ve had many, many battles throughout the years and we type of disliked one another on the soccer pitch as a result of he needed to play and win for Chelsea and I needed to win for Arsenal.”
He added: “We met one another on the World Cup in Russia working for the BBC and we went to the health club collectively.
“We have been having lunch collectively and that was when he had simply signed for Derby [as manager], and I used to be asking him questions on how he noticed the scenario and he was explaining his plans a bit bit.
“That is what soccer is about. I respect him a lot for what he has carried out with Chelsea and for soccer usually. He was a unbelievable participant and a unbelievable opponent to play in opposition to.
“In fact, I disliked him, as a result of many instances they beat us and it was troublesome to play in opposition to him, however all the time with respect and admiration.”
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