Back to the Chelsea Newsfeed

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa offers support to Frank Lampard over Chelsea sacking, saying he needed 'development and time' and that English football is losing its 'spirit' as a result of its cut-throat attitude to managers

Marcelo Bielsa believes Chelsea’s brutal sacking of Frank Lampard proves the spirit of English football is losing its allure and fears fans will suffer as a result.

Lampard was axed after just 18 months in charge at Stamford Bridge and replaced by Thomas Tuchel, a move which led Leeds boss Bielsa to express great sympathy for the former England midfielder.

Bielsa, now in his third season at Elland Road, feels the increasingly cut-throat nature of management in the Premier League is evidence of the decay of English football.

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa has defended Frank Lampard over his sacking by Chelsea
Bielsa said Lampard had 'built one of the best groups in English football'

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa (L) has defended Frank Lampard (R) over his sacking by Chelsea

Bielsa said Lampard's squad 'needed development and time' to improve their league fortunes

Bielsa said Lampard's squad 'needed development and time' to improve their league fortunes

The Argentinian, whose side travel to Leicester today and has yet to commit his future to Leeds beyond this season, said: ‘Lampard built one of the best groups in English football — the whole world — and evidently that group needed development and time.