On Sunday afternoon, two of the Premier League’s most decorated midfielders turned heads, but not on the pitch. They were in the stands at Stamford Bridge. The camera panned to Yaya Touré and Frank Lampard smiling and saying hello to each other as the Blues got ready to play Manchester City. Fans who remember the two men at the height of their rivalry in the 2010s have been feeling nostalgic since the picture was released.
Anyone who followed English football at that time will remember that moment. Touré was the box-to-box enforcer who helped Manchester City win several league titles after his famous time at Barcelona. Lampard is still Chelsea’s all-time leading scorer and, some would say, the best all-round English midfielder of his generation. The two of them laughed together and shook hands, years after their heated Premier League games.
Chelsea and Manchester City Face Off
The reunion took place during a very important league game. Chelsea, who were in sixth place, hosted Manchester City, who were in second place, at Stamford Bridge on Matchday 32 of the Premier League. Liam Rosenior’s team were in bad shape going into the game, having lost their last two Premier League games to Newcastle United and Everton without scoring.
The stakes were just as high for the visitors. Manchester City came to Stamford Bridge nine points behind Arsenal, who are in first place in the league. City have two games in hand and a direct match against Arsenal at the Etihad next weekend. In their last ten games against Chelsea, Pep Guardiola’s team have not lost, winning seven and drawing three. The Blues needed an upset to stop City’s late title surge and save their own faltering bid for the top five, as they remain desperate for points to get back into the Champions League.