On Friday night, West Bromwich Albion lost 2-1 to Huddersfield Town, confirming Leeds United as the champions of the second division. That, of course, means automatic promotion to the Premier League for next season, Leeds’ first in 16 years since his relegation in 2004.
It has certainly been a dramatic journey for the club in the past two decades, from a Champions League semifinal in 2001 to administration in 2007 and a few years in the third division, including, until now, being coached by the legendary madman, Marcelo. The same “El Loco” Bielsa, but now they are “back to where we belong”, as the celebration signs do not read socially distanced and that means that next season also became a little more spicy for Chelsea.
Club rivalry, like many of Chelsea’s biggest rivalries, is competitive rather than geographic, based (at least initially) on games and results rather than location, and then expands and evolves from there. Driven by a perceived class and cultural divide, it dates back to the 1960s and the iconic 1970 FA Cup final, but it was also hugely important for the next two decades during the height of vandalism (Headhunters vs. Service Crew) . However, we’ve only seen each other once since 2004: Chelsea won easily, 5-1, in the League Cup, and that will only increase the emotions of that upcoming first match next season.
Incidentally, the 1970 FA Cup Final is commemorated with this season’s 50th anniversary FA Cup jerseys.
And that’s before getting to fresh blood in this rivalry, which dates back to last season, and to Frank Lampard specifically. While training in Derby County at the time, Lampard and Bielsa clashed in the media over “spygate” – Bielsa sending a guy to hide in the bushes, literally, at the Rams’ training ground – then they met at the Promotional playoffs where Derby recorded an unlikely victory, leading to some iconic celebratory scenes, including a mocking version of the Leeds fans’ song “Stop Crying, Frank Lampard” directed by the man himself.
In case you were wondering, Lampard still lives without paying rent.
So that should be fun!
CHELSEA BONUS CONNECTION:
Leeds’ top scorer is none other than former Chelsea contender Patrick Bamford, who finally managed to replicate his 2014-15 breakout season and now also hopes to do so again at the Premier League level (1 goal in 27 attempts so far. ) Bamfordinho will be 27 when the next season begins.
