Solskjær vs Lampard: Two club legends face each other tonight

Tonight’s Premier League game between Chelsea and Manchester United sees two club legends face each other from the coach’s dugout.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær

Although Ole Gunnar Solskjær played 235 games for United during an 11-season career in the Premier League, the Norwegian striker is best known for the goal he scored in the third minute of injury time in the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich to give the Reds an unexpected 2-1 victory in a match they were losing 1-0 at the start of injury time.

He also won six Premier League titles and two FA Cups during his time in England.

Tomorrow Solskjær takes his United side to Chelsea.

But while United are struggling to make the all-important top four, Chelsea occupy one of the Champions League places – with the Blues sitting in fourth – four places (and six points) ahead of United.

Frank Lampard

Chelsea have their own legend in charge after Frank Lampard took over at the beginning of the season.

Lampard played 611 Premier League matches for three clubs – West Ham, Chelsea and Manchester City – but by far the majority for Chelsea, winning three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and one Champions League title.

Both clubs have never really been in with a chance to lift the title this season and need to look elsewhere if they want to salvage something.

Not surprisingly, both clubs have already looked towards strengthening their squads for next season.

Chelsea have just announced that they have signed Hakim Ziyech from Ajax Amsterdam for €40 million (R64 million), with the Moroccan international moving to London for the new season.

Solskjær, meanwhile, has been told that he can spend some £280 million for new signings, with Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho being one of his targets.

He was facing opposition from Chelsea for the exciting England international, but the Blues are said to have withdrawn after hearing of Borussia Dortmund’s asking price.

Solskjær could call on new signing Odion Ighalo, who had to train away from the rest of the squad for two weeks following his arrival in Manchester after a six-month loan agreement with his Chinese club.

The Nigerian international was not cleared earlier owing to the outbreak of the coronavirus, which has caused the death of more than 1 000 so far.

Lampard, meanwhile, will have to make up his mind about whether he will bring goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga back into the team.

The Spaniard was dropped for Chelsea’s last game before the mini winter break and was said to have been stunned by the decision, but expected to return for tomorrow’s game.

In his place, veteran goalkeeper Willy Caballero stood between the poles in the 2-2 draw against Leicester City.

Lampard explained his choice at the time: “It’s a decision I have not taken lightly. They train together, they are close and it’s one I thought I’d make for this [Leicester City] game. I trust in Willy, he’s very professional.”

Lampard and Solskjær have meet 11 times as players, with the United player having the advantage with five wins, compared with three draws and three defeats.

Solskjær also has the advantage when it comes to goal scoring, having scored four goals, compared to the one goal that Lampard scored.

They have meet twice as coaches, with Solskjær winning both. United secured an emphatic 4-0 victory in their opening league match this season and then won 2-1 at Chelsea in the fourth round of the League Cup.

In today’s matches, Aston Villa are at home to Tottenham Hotspur, while struggling Arsenal, who might be looking at yet another season without Champions League football, are at home to Newcastle.

The Gunners – are at eleventh place on the log, 10 points behind Chelsea and with 13 games remaining – have their work cut out for themselves if they want to make it into the top four.

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