The 37-year-old who was on loan at City for an initial six month’s from MLS side New York City FC, extended his stay in England for the entire duration of the English league season, after City expressed their desire to keep him for the remainder of the campaign.
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He said: “It is an absolute pleasure to be here”. As he prepares himself in training for what he dubbed a “turbo preseason”, Lampard, who is earning $6 million per season in MLS, believes that the loan ordeal is “water under the bridge”. “I know I don’t have much time to adapt but it’s a great challenge”. And driving a vehicle has been interesting too, I tried that for the first time the other day and think I did OK.
“Well, I’ve not done the subway yet”, he said with a smile.
“But all the sounds and the buzz suits me just right”.
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“The only way to answer any question is on the pitch”.
Lampard said he was looking forward to renewing the rivalry he shared with Steven Gerrard, who has signed for LA Galaxy. I’ll do it all on the pitch. It’s a mini-preseason for me. I’ve got 18 months here (in my contract) and I’d like to extend that.
Lampard will play alongside the likes of David Villa and Andrea Pirlo at the Yankee Stadium, and the ex- Chelsea man is eagerly anticipating linking up with the decorated duo.
New York have also added 115-cap Italian Pirlo, 36, from Juventus to a squad already including David Villa. I’ve had my time in the Premier League and Europe and it’s not going to happen now. “I was asked from the top to stay on in Manchester, so it wasn’t an easy position for me to be in”, Lampard said.
“He has well defined ideas in mind, and I am sure we will get on well and create a good relationship to train well and try to win together”, Pirlo said. “He can have the first one!”
“As soon as the fixture list came out that date was pencilled in and I’m really ready for that game”.
“I think my age has been spoken about since I turned 30 in England they started to write me off so it’s been a long time coming”, he said.
The ex- England worldwide is set to make his NYCFC debut this Sunday against Toronto FC, and hopes to put to rest questions about his commitment to the club and long-term fitness.
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All these must help the sport grow in popularity in the USA.
