“I want to make it completely clear as I have read a lot of lies and nonsense over the last few days.”
How does a Premier League legend end up being so valuable so quickly to Premier League champions that it causes a crisis on another continent? In the 2014/15 season, Frank Lampard and Manchester City found out the hard way.
The sun had shone on Brooklyn Bridge Park in July 2014, an iconic location for what the Blues hoped would be an iconic announcement: Lampard was to be a marquee signing for their new MLS franchise New York City FC. One of the greatest midfielders seen in England, the veteran had said goodbye to Chelsea after 13 memorable years and was ready for a new adventure.
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It seemed perfect for all parties. City got to convince skeptics and critics that New York City would not just be an outpost of the Manchester mothership, a Premier League great could shine on a different stage without risking his Chelsea legacy, and help keep the trend of quality and professionalism in MLS ticking upwards.
The only fly in the ointment was that the first game would not be until March 2015, so what was he supposed to do until then? A short move was proposed to keep him fit until he could join up for pre-season with his new teammates at the end of the year.
So it came to be that a man who had promised Chelsea fans he would never turn out for another Premier League club signed a short deal with City – the team that had pipped them to the Premier League title a few months earlier. It was accepted in the circumstances, although nobody would expect what followed.
Lampard was good. Really good. In a City team that were really struggling to live up to expectations.
His debut came in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates and a week later he came off the bench to rescue a point for ten-man City with a goal against his former employers Chelsea. “Oh no!” shouted Martin Tyler on commentary as Lampard volleyed in James Milner’s cross in the box. “I don’t know what Lampard makes of it.”
Three goals would come in the next two games and before long Lampard was starting Champions League games for his new team. City were struggling to keep pace domestically and in Europe, but it quickly became clear that Lampard was more important to the side playing well than they had ever imagined.
If that had NYCFC and MLS fans salivating at what Lampard could bring to MLS, the New Year brought a bitter taste for their mouths. Lampard would be staying in Manchester for the remainder of the season before belatedly joining up with his new club.
That was enough of a bombshell, but for Lampard to stay he had to confirm that his new club wasn’t actually his new club at all. City had to admit that an article on their website calling Lampard’s deal was a six-month loan was not factually correct and nor was a NYCFC piece saying his two-year deal ran from August 2014.
“It is a disaster for that new franchise, a disaster for the MLS,” was the verdict from pundit Steve Nicol and the upset caused by the U-turn forced Lampard to issue a statement. 2015 had certainly started with a bang but the mood was not celebratory.
“I want to make it completely clear about my situation as I have read a lot of lies and nonsense over the last few days,” Lampard wrote.
“When released from Chelsea last year at the end of my contract I signed a commitment to play in NYC FC for two years starting January 1 2015. I was then offered the chance to train and be part of the Man City squad in the interim to keep myself in the best shape going into New York.
“This period has since been extended by Man City and I now will start playing for NYC FC at the end of this current Premier League season. There has always been a constant dialogue between all parties in this time to find the best solution for everyone.
“I can say that I am very excited about arriving in New York and giving everything to the team to make us a success in the MLS as soon as possible. Thanks everyone for your ongoing support and I wish everyone a healthy and happy 2015!”
Back on the pitch, City blew a 2-0 lead at home to Sunderland on New Year’s Day before Lampard scored within three minutes of coming on to earn a 3-2 victory that kept the Blues in touch with his former club at the top of the table. It hammered home just why manager Manuel Pellegrini was so keen to keep him, but also what a loss he would be to MLS while he delayed his arrival.
Lampard would go on to make 38 appearances for City before moving to New York, where he had mixed success in a two-year spell. Nobody will know how much his late arrival affected his time there but he became so valuable to City that it ended up costing NYCFC.