Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that he regrets missing out on signing Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard for the Old Trafford club, speaking ahead of today’s fixture between the two sides.
The 34-year-old England international recently celebrated scoring his 201st Chelsea goal in front of record holder Bobby Tambling and every Blue is desperate to see Lampard break the record whether they agree that it’s right for him to move on in the summer or not. Ferguson has admitted that it was a mistake on his part to overlook Lampard when he left West Ham back in 2001.
Ferguson heaped heavy praise on Lampard:
“Lampard has been unbelievable. I don’t think a midfield player will be able to do that figure again. It’s quite phenomenal.
“Like Bryan Robson, he has had a great knack of timing his runs into the box at the right time. John Wark was another one at Ipswich.
“The other things is I can’t remember Lampard ever being injured. When he’s not been playing it’s because they thought he was past it.
“The guy has had a great career. I must say we looked at him when he was at West Ham as a young player and I maybe regret not having done it.
“Where else could I get 200 goals?”
Lampard is out of contract at the end of the season and has been linked with moves to the likes of LA Galaxy and AS Monaco. Despite recent reports in relation to a Jose Mourinho return and the media guessing he would demand Lampard stay in West London, I think the decision has been made for some time and I doubt the club will be moved as they need to free up a significant amount of wages for the purchase of essential players in the summer.
To me it feels a lot like what we went through with Didier Drogba and the Ivorian went out in the best way possible. Lampard has the chance to do something similar as he bids to make himself the club’s all-time record goal scorer and can help us complete a European set by winning the Europa League.
He’s been a tremendous servant to the club either way and it is no surprise to hear well respected figures like Sir Alex speak highly of him and his achievements.
