A year after joining a Major League Soccer side that had never played a match, and months after he was expected to be in a New York City FC uniform, Frank Lampard finally will get to make a statement the best way he knows how this weekend.
The Chelsea and England stalwart is set for his NYCFC debut Sunday against Toronto FC, and he hopes to put to rest questions about his commitment to the club, his fitness, and anything else that might bubble up by finally taking the field for his new team.
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"I think it’s a perfect challenge for me at this part of my career," Lampard said Tuesday at a news conference. "That’s why the decision to come here was an easy one, relatively. … 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 I’ve 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."
The 37-year-old will slot into the midfield of an NYCFC team that has played well of late, winning four of its last five matches. That represents a strong recovery from a start that saw the club go winless in 11 games while Lampard wrapped up his final Premier League campaign on loan with Manchester City.
That only heightened the ire of some of the club's supporters toward Lampard, who had originally been set to leave City in time for NYCFC's first-ever match in March. Asked Tuesday if he felt he owed a debt to New York fans, Lampard brushed the question aside.
"If anyone feels there’s a debt, I’ll try and answer everything on the pitch," he said. "That’s what I’ve done all my career. I’m a pretty straight person, I think. I work very hard, I try and do my best, and if that can bring success, if I can help the team win, none of us will have debts to pay. We’ll all be happy."
Lampard certainly seemed pleased with the time he has spent in New York so far. He said he's been welcomed by the club and has been pleased with the quality of coach Jason Kreis' training sessions. He also acknowledged loving the "buzz" of living in the city after so many years in London, though he admitted he has not yet taken a ride on the subway.
As much as he might look forward to that experience, it's nothing compared to sharing a field with fellow designated players David Villa and Andrea Pirlo — a trio that instantly will be the most renowned of any MLS side.
"I’m fortunate enough to have played against many great players, and I have to say David and Andrea are right at the top of that list," Lampard said. "I played against David when he was very young, playing at Valencia, and I remember him very well, the quality straight away.
"Andrea Pirlo is a joy to watch as a footballer anyway, and there was one time at Chelsea where there were rumors that he was going to come and play when Ancelloti was there, that they wanted to sign him. It never happened, but both of them are players that I’ve admired from afar and an absolute joy to play with.
"I didn’t realize it would happen at this stage in my career, but I’m a lucky man to be in the same squad, same team as them."
Now it's just a matter of getting back on the pitch and getting things started. Unlike in the early part of 2015 under Manuel Pellegrini, Lampard knows he'll be in the NYCFC side as often as fitness allows. And it appears the veteran's focus is squarely on what he can accomplish rather than the steps that led to this point.
"I was a bit frustrated probably mainly through January, February, March," he said. "But it’s hard to have regrets and to look back with a negative feeling. … All I am is very excited to be here now and to try and play my best football."
