- Title: SOCCER-MLS/LAMPARD Lampard ready for MLS debut
- Date: 7th July 2015
- Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JULY 7, 2015) (REUTERS) FRANK LAMPARD ENTERING PRESS CONFERENCE WITH NYC FC MANAGER JASON KREIS NYC FC INSIGNIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) NYC FC MIDFIELDER FRANK LAMPARD SAYING: "It's a difficult question, I suppose. I think the challenge is to come here and do the best I can, simple answer, and win. I think it's the perfect challenge for me
- Embargoed: 22nd July 2015 13:00
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- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA7INZ1T212E5WOR2MCXDKHICI
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Midfielder Frank Lampard considered himself lucky to be joining the NYC Football Club on Tuesday (July 7).
The former Chelsea and England man began training with his new club this week after taking a short break after the end of his final Premier League stint Manchester City. He will join Spanish star David Villa and, later this month, newly-signed Italian great Andrea Pirlo at the midway point of the inaugural season for the MLS team.
"I'm fortunate enough to play with a number of great players and I have to say David (Villa) and Andrea (Pirlo) are right at the top of that list," Lampard said at a press conference.
"Both of them are players I've admired from afar and an absolute joy to play with. I didn't realize it would happen at this stage of my career. I'm a lucky man to be on the same squad, same team as them."
Lampard initially signed with NYC FC last fall after the end of his contract with Chelsea and retiring from England, but postponed his arrival for the MLS season, which runs April to October, with a stay at Manchester City to stay fit -- a short term loan that was extended until the end of the season in England.
The Anglo-Arab (Abu Dhabi) holding company City Football Group owns both Manchester City and NYC FC, along with Melbourne City in Australia, with Manchester organizing football operations for the clubs.
"I think the challenge is to come here and do the best I can, simple answer, and win. I think it's the perfect challenge for me at this part of my career, that's why the decision to come here was an easy one, relatively," explained Lampard.
"I wouldn't have come here if I didn't think I had a lot left in me in terms of fitness, in terms of freshness. I've always had a huge desire to win throughout my career and have been fortunate to do that, but my challenge is to show people that I'm here to win and play well as regularly as I can."
Lampard will be eligible for his first match at home on Sunday against Toronto FC at Yankee Stadium. So far, manager Jason Kreis has yet to confirm how Lampard will make his much anticipated debut.
"I have a mindset and a plan, but plans and mindsets typically change, so I'm open to seeing what's what during the match. . . and as we lead up to the match as well. So, decisions will be made as they're needed to be made and I don't need to make them yet, but I have a plan," said Kreis.
NYC FC sit in the middle of table of the ten-team Eastern Conference in the MLS, but are the hottest team in the league winning four of their last five matches. The second through ninth place teams are only separated by five points. In the US system, the top six clubs per conference qualify for a playoffs with the winner of the Eastern and Western Conference playoffs meeting for the league title. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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