Frank Lampard has opened up about his feelings upon joining Manchester City training for the first time.
The England legend unexpectedly joined City after enjoying a trophy-laden 13 years at Chelsea.
Lampard had joined City’s sister club, New York City FC, but shortly afterwards moved to Manchester on loan.
The deal was initially supposed to only last six months but was then extended for the rest of the season as Lampard performed well.
But before that, he had to meet his new teammates for the first time. Something he found ‘really strange.’
Frank Lampard on his first Man City training session
“It was really strange. Being at Chelsea for so long, I had the same drive into the training ground, the same faces when I got there, the same dressing room day after day.”
“I was established in it and then going to City, I think the first day I absolutely felt like I was going back to school – the new boy – because even though I’d got a long career behind me, sitting in a different dressing room with Aguero, Milner, Richards, Nasri, Toure was a different environment for me.
“At first, I kept quiet just to gauge the dynamics but I was delighted to get a good feeling so quickly.
“I felt real respect from the players, they were very helpful in terms of settling in and I tried to keep my head down and get training and show them I was serious and wanted to come in and help.
“I was made to feel very, very welcome, not just by the players but by all the staff at the training ground. I loved it from day one if I’m honest.”
An unexpected success
As unexpected as it was, Lampard’s year-long stay at the Etihad Stadium ended up being a success.
He was 36 by the time he joined City and approaching the end of his career but he still had plenty to offer Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
Lampard grabbed eight goals in 38 appearances, most famously a late equaliser against his former club in a 1-1 draw with a typically cool finish.
He would play his final Premier League match as captain against Southampton and scored before finally seeing through his move to New York.
Lampard played for 18 months in the city that never sleeps, scoring 15 times in 31 games, before calling time on his playing career.
He entered into management and enjoyed some immediate success at Derby County, reaching the Championship play-offs in his first season, and at Chelsea before things started going downhill.
The 45-year-old has since struggled at Everton and in a second stint at Stamford Bridge as caretaker manager. He’s been out of work since May last year.
