Frank Lampard has admitted he is not surprised by Erling Haaland’s record-breaking goalscoring heroics for Manchester City and confirmed he tried to sign him for Chelsea during his first spell in charge of the club. The Norway international has amassed an astonishing 52 goals in his first season in English football, which could yet culminate in an historic treble.
Haaland endured a rare off night in front of goal against Real Madrid in midweek, but it made little difference as City swept to a sensational 4-0 win over the Spanish side, booking their place in next month’s Champions League final. Victory over Chelsea on Sunday would be enough to confirm a fifth Premier League title in six seasons, but it could have been a very different story had Lampard been able to entice Haaland to Stamford Bridge.
‘It’s a fantastic stat from him. I know the Chelsea side [of only scoring 36 goals as a team] is another story,’ said Lampard at his pre-match press conference. ‘I tried to sign him when I was last here. I was really keen to get him here but it couldn’t happen. His level was really clear at that point as well. We had played him in a pre-season game at Salzburg and he was fantastic. I love seeing players at that level and with that personality to be the best which he has proven to be. I did expect that and I have a real respect for the player. I don’t know whether he would have decided to come here anyway but I was a big fan of that [happening].
Asked if Haaland could be compared to Premier League legend and a former teammate of Lampard’s, Didier Drogba, the interim Chelsea boss added: ‘I couldn’t compare him to Didier. But Didier had that impact over a long period of time. Haaland’s impact has been more instant. I don’t think it’s a direct comparison but they’re both great strikers.’
Frank Lampard has admitted he is not surprised by Erling Haaland’s record-breaking goalscoring heroics for Manchester City and confirmed he tried to sign him for Chelsea during his first spell in charge of the club. The Norway international has amassed an astonishing 52 goals in his first season in English football, which could yet culminate in an historic treble.
Haaland endured a rare off night in front of goal against Real Madrid in midweek, but it made little difference as City swept to a sensational 4-0 win over the Spanish side, booking their place in next month’s Champions League final. Victory over Chelsea on Sunday would be enough to confirm a fifth Premier League title in six seasons, but it could have been a very different story had Lampard been able to entice Haaland to Stamford Bridge.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Lampard said: ‘It’s a fantastic stat from him. I know the Chelsea side [of only scoring 36 goals as a team] is another story. I tried to sign him when I was last here. I was really keen to get him here but it couldn’t happen. His level was really clear at that point as well. We had played him in a pre-season game at Salzburg and he was fantastic. I love seeing players at that level and with that personality to be the best which he has proven to be. I did expect that and I have a real respect for the player. I don’t know whether he would have decided to come here anyway but I was a big fan of that [happening].
When asked if Haaland could be compared to Premier League legend and a former teammate of Lampard’s, Didier Drogba, the interim Chelsea boss added: ‘I couldn’t compare him to Didier. But Didier had that impact over a long period of time. Haaland’s impact has been more instant. I don’t think it’s a direct comparison but they’re both great strikers.’