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Frank Lampard refuses to address Marcelo Bielsa's latest press conference

Frank Lampard refuses to address Marcelo Bielsa's latest press conference
© Reuters
Alan Shearer and Jermaine Jenas commented on the events.

Frank Lampard refused to comment on Marcelo Bielsa's latest press conference as the spying row between Leeds and Derby continued to unfold.

Bielsa gave a lengthy presentation to journalists on Wednesday evening while making the frank admission that Leeds had "observed all the rivals" in training sessions prior to playing them in the Sky Bet Championship this season.

It comes after a staff member of Leeds was caught by police at the Derby training ground attempting to gain information ahead of the Friday night fixture, which Leeds subsequently won 2-0, and prompted accusations of spying.

Bielsa went to extreme lengths on Wednesday to show all the detailed analysis he does of opponents aside from covertly watching them train, but Lampard refused to be drawn on the topic once again ahead of Derby's FA Cup replay with Southampton.

"I made quite a few comments earlier in the week about it," he told the BBC, referring to his comments ahead of the Friday night fixture.

"I haven't seen the latest press conference but have been told about it in general terms. It is one to comment on, or not, when I know more about it.

"We have a big game so the last thing I want to do is harp back to details that are not relevant to tonight."

Former England striker Alan Shearer, working as a pundit ahead of the third-round tie at St Mary's, admitted that sending in people to watch training sessions was not a new thing, but claimed it was "wrong" to do so.

He said: "It's very open and honest from him (Bielsa). Watching teams on the sly is nothing new to football.

"When you go away into European games and you train at the stadium the night before, you are almost certain that there is someone from the opposition watching.

"It is nothing new but it is slightly different when it is not an open training session and there is no privacy and anyone can watch you.

"I don't think it is anything new but it is definitely wrong. You can't go into someone's private training ground when you are not invited, and then take information from that. It is different in an open session."

Ex-England international Jermaine Jenas, who had called for Leeds to be deducted points in the immediate aftermath of Bielsa's initial comments, added: "It is wrong, as simple as that.

"In terms of punishment, those players are there (top of the league) by merit and have played brilliantly all year. Should they be punished on the basis of what the manager has done?

"We are not all naive but it doesn't feel right."


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Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa on January 11, 2019
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds28166647301754
2Norwich CityNorwich28158552361653
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd28155846291750
4West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom27138655352047
5Middlesbrough281211531201147
6Derby CountyDerby2813784035546
7Bristol City2812883529644
8Hull City28117104135640
9Swansea CitySwansea28117103732540
10Blackburn RoversBlackburn28101083741-440
11Birmingham CityBirmingham2891274033739
12Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2891273932739
13Aston Villa2891275145639
14Queens Park RangersQPR28116113439-539
15Stoke CityStoke2891183335-238
16Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2898113345-1235
17Brentford28810104339434
18Preston North EndPreston2889114345-233
19Millwall2878133444-1029
20Wigan AthleticWigan2885152841-1329
21Rotherham UnitedRotherham28510132746-1925
22Reading2858153143-1223
23Bolton WanderersBolton2757151840-2222
24Ipswich TownIpswich2839162248-2618

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