Tomorrow evening at 22:00 Beijing time (14:00 CEST), Coventry will face Manchester City in the third round of the Premier League. During the latter part of his pre-match press conference, Lampard discussed his expectations for the match against Manchester City and his views on Maresca. Related link: Lampard: I've Always Followed Maresca's Work as a Manager, Even More So When He Was at Chelsea

As a former player, does that make you a bit nostalgic? The teams you played against back then, like FC Barcelona, had many technically gifted players who created chances with flashes of inspiration. Is it a shame that not everyone prioritises those types of technical players anymore?

Nostalgia should be kept in perspective. Looking back, we always tend to romanticise the appeal of matches from that era, and I understand that feeling. But football itself is constantly evolving. Nowadays, tactical systems keep improving, and it's difficult for traditional number 10s to survive. Even attacking midfielders have to cover a lot of ground.

I experienced that era firsthand, though I wasn't myself that type of technical attacking midfielder. Times always move forward. If I set aside my identity and simply look at players like Haaland from a fan's perspective, he's not a traditional technical attacking midfielder but a goal-scoring machine, which is equally captivating, and I admire such players too.

Back then, Chelsea shocked everyone by spending £150 million in a single summer transfer window. Today, Manchester City has invested £300 million just to strengthen their midfield. When you were playing in the Premier League, could you have imagined that transfer spending would increase this much?

I never expected it at all. Towards the end of my playing career, Terry and I even discussed in the dressing room whether transfer fees would peak before declining. Even at that time, transfer fees were already skyrocketing, and I could never have imagined there would be another surge after that.

This stems from the rapid expansion of the Premier League's brand influence across the world, which has created today's exorbitant transfer market. Manchester City's transfer budget for midfielders is roughly three times our club's total transfer budget. Given the reality, we can only find alternative ways to compete.

You played for Manchester City for one season as a player. After the Guardiola era, has Manchester City completely transformed into a different club compared to when you were there?

The foundations of the club haven't changed. During my year there, I already saw their future direction. At that time, Mancini, Fane, and others were very active on the training ground. Whether it was the team's style of play, the club's operating philosophy, or community engagement, they had already set out a long-term development pathway.

As the club developed rapidly, it also maintained ties with the local community. That year's experience broadened my horizons, allowing me to see a top-level club operating model different from Chelsea's. So I'm not surprised at all by Manchester City's current achievements. They've consistently followed that path, attracting top players, hiring renowned managers, and reaching where they are today, step by step.

As a newly promoted manager, when you see Manchester City and other giants investing heavily, do you feel envious, or do you recognise the disparity and accept the reality calmly?

I can only choose to accept the reality; envy makes no sense. When giants sign top-level players at high prices, we can only accept that calmly and then focus on our own work. It's not just Manchester City; many Premier League clubs have invested continuously over the years, refining their squads step by step. That's the current reality of the Premier League.

We don't compare ourselves to others. Our club has developed rapidly since promotion, and this summer's transfer results are also satisfactory. In the future, we'll probably often play as underdogs, but that's not a bad thing. We'll do our best, give everything every day, and maximise what we can achieve within our budget.

During your season at Manchester City, you scored a total of 8 goals, and the team finished second in the league. Are you satisfied with that final season of your Premier League playing career?

Personally, I'm very satisfied. I initially thought I would retire at Chelsea, but after that opportunity fell through, Manchester City offered me a lifeline. I was already 35 or 36 years old at the time, and leaving Chelsea to join Manchester City made me both anxious and excited.

Being recognised by a title-contending team at that age greatly satisfied me. The journey from London to Manchester wasn't far—just a two-hour train ride—and that experience benefited me greatly. I entered a new dressing room and witnessed the working methods of another prestigious club.

I built good relationships with Manchester City fans. Early on, people may have wondered what a veteran who'd played for Chelsea for 13 years could bring, but I gave everything. I made many close friendships at Manchester City, and I might even see them tomorrow. Looking back, accepting that challenge was an experience for which I'm incredibly grateful.

Traduit par IA.

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