In the lead-up to the Monday’s Championship play-off final between Aston Villa and Derby County, Dean Smith has praised opposing manager Frank Lampard.
Villa boss Smith has tried to reduce the tension heading in the final by praising Frank Lampard just days before the huge game.
Smith has told the Daily Mail about the time when he asked the Chelsea legend to come in and give a talk to his Brentford players, and he could not speak highly enough of Lampard.
I like to get different people in to come and do talks. Frank was one of them. He was well received by the players. That was when he was doing a little bit of coaching at Chelsea. He speaks very well about the game, understands the game.
I think he has worked extremely hard to get where he is. He has worked very hard to be at the top of his career as a player, worked hard as a coach too. He has done his badges. It does not surprise me he has done very well at Derby.
Lampard has had a great debut season as a manager with Derby County. He enjoyed a good cup run which included a win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The Rams have also had a brilliant end of the season which saw them finish ahead of Middlesbrough in the final play-off place and they showed great character to come from behind to beat Leeds to advance to the final.
Aston Villa went on a superb run since the appointment of Dean Smith to hijack the play-offs after starting off in the mid-table positions.
The Villans then ousted city rivals West Brom in the semi-finals to reach Monday’s final.
