Will Chelsea give Manchester City a guard of honour on Sunday as 2023 Premier League champions

By | May 21, 2023
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Manchester City host Chelsea as 2022/23 Premier League champions after sealing a third consecutive league title and fifth in the last six seasons. 

Arsenal’s 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest on May 20 confirmed Pep Guardiola’s team as Premier League kings once again before even kicking a ball against Chelsea.

Frank Lampard’s Chelsea side will be the guests at City’s Etihad Stadium title party with the visitors currently experiencing underwhelming end to the campaign.

Alongside being forced to watch on as the City party gets underway, Chelsea face a decision over giving a traditional guard of honour to the defending champions.

MORE: When will Man City get the Premier League trophy? Timing for ceremony

MORE: How many teams have won three straight Premier League titles?

Will Chelsea give Man City guard of honour?

Lampard was asked about the potential for giving his former club a pre-game guard of honour ahead of the match and the ex-England international confirmed he would be happy to follow the tradition.

“The only inspiration should be what it’s taken City to get where they are. The trophy lift is something to be respectful of. Understanding why they are lifting it is another. 

“I remember getting that [a guard of honour] as a player and it was something that was very respectful, so I have no problem with that at all.”

MORE: A brief rundown of the history of the Guard of Honour

What is a guard of honour in football?

A guard of honour has become a hot topic in recent Premier League seasons with pressure on the non-champions to adhere to it.

Effectively, a guard of honour involves the opposition playing squad lining up on either side of the tunnel entrance to clap the champions onto the pitch, before the game begins.

Premier League referees allow for a slight adjustment to pre-game warmups to facilitate the move and Chelsea will follow suit in Manchester.

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