09 June 2024 , 08:15
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Frank Lampard is back in the dugout for Soccer Aid this weekend, and fans may recall one eventful moment from his last time as a boss - when he engaged in a spat with then-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
The incident took place in July 2020 when Klopp's Liverpool were squaring off against Lampard's Chelsea. An X-rated row between the two bosses stole the show on a thrilling night.
Lampard has since opened up about the occasion and has even claimed there are moments from the infamous encounter that he does not regret.
Liverpool were readying for a grand trophy lift ceremony at Anfield on the night, albeit without fans due to Covid restrictions, when events were made even sweeter for them as they triumphed over Lampard's team with a 5-3 win.
However, the celebratory atmosphere was punctuated by the fiery touchline altercation. Lampard, who has managed Derby, Chelsea, and Everton, hit out at Klopp, saying: "Only league title you've ever won and you're f****** giving it the big 'un... f*** off!"
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The incident sparked a flurry of online chatter and remained a hot topic among fans for quite some time. However, though the former Chelsea star later expressed his regret over the heated exchange with Klopp, he also revealed the parts of the exchange he categorically did not feel any remorse over and said he regrets that the silence in the stadium, brought on by pandemic rules, propelled his words to the masses.
Speaking to The Optus Sport Football Podcast in December 2022, the then-Everton manager confessed: "I've got to be careful to say that I'd never do it again because if I do you can replay this.
"I regret my wording, I don't regret my passion and I probably regret there were no fans in the stadium to drown out the noise because these things do happen and we see them."
Lampard did concede that the high-stakes nature of the match may have contributed to his fiery reaction, as Liverpool were in a celebratory mood while his Chelsea squad were battling for a top-four spot. The former Derby boss admitted he could have better controlled his emotions, while also acknowledging the immense pressure faced by top-tier managers.
Jurgen Klopp gestures towards Frank Lampard"When I see another manager, I appreciate the passion and I understand the pressures and the reality of that game was that we were fighting to be in the Champions League positions in the last three games or whatever it was," he said. "Liverpool were in party mode because they were going to be given the Premier League trophy after the game so it was a pressure game for us and maybe that's just how I am and maybe you've just got to control yourself better at different times."
The incident between the two became even more memorable when Trent Alexander-Arnold scored a spectacular free kick immediately after, giving Liverpool a 2-0 lead and leaving Lampard facing a significant loss. Despite this, the former Man City player expressed his respect for Klopp, but still defended his passion in the heat of the moment.
"I've got a lot of respect for Jurgen Klopp so after the event you think that it was too much and when up against a manager you respect and maybe you should word it differently but I kind of stand by my passion at the moment it happened. I was defending my team, I felt that at the moment," he said.
Lampard also admitted that his heated exchange with Klopp made him reflect on how it could have affected his personal life. He confessed: "I had a bit of regret the next day as I had to ring my elder daughters who were probably among the viewers, they were 15 and 16 at the time.
Lampard and Klopp exchanged words at Anfield in July 2020 (Getty Images)"So then you realise you're representing the football club and you have to act in a certain way and I'd overstepped the line that day so I regret that side of it."
After being sacked from Chelsea in January 2021, Lampard managed Everton for a year before returning to Stamford Bridge as interim manager in April 2023. Lampard, who has been without a managerial role for a while, will be back in charge this weekend at Soccer Aid though when his England team will face off against a World IX at Stamford Bridge for charity.
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