Frank Lampard Says Manchester City Will Win Champions League
By Lou Flavius
Manchester City midfielder Frank Lampard believes that his current club will win the coveted European trophy at some point.
More from The Top Flight
- Barcelona identify Newcastle star as Robert Lewandowski replacement
- Arsenal injury news: Mikel Arteta confirms “rapid” attacker suffered injury
- “600 days” Fans make SHOCK Chelsea revelation – They really are poor
- Arsenal transfer news: Mikel Arteta rivals Manchester United for wonderkid
- Manchester United: Erik ten Hag pinpoints 4 players amid Brighton loss
Lampard — who lifted the trophy with Chelsea in 2012– knows that the Champions League is something that every big club needs to win.
With a tough two-legged battle against Barcelona coming up, City will have it all to do, but the midfielder seems to be ready for the challenge.
Manchester City Training Ground – Credit: Senior Agen (Flickr Creative Commons)
"“This is a trophy every big club needs in their collection and, the way City are heading, it is one that will happen at some point.”“These sorts of games are the ones you have to win if you are going to go on and win the competition.”-Frank LampardSource: espnfc"
Lampard recounts the many times he came close to winning it with the Blues, only for it to end in disappointment. John Terry’s missed penalty against Manchester United in the 2008 final and the horrific experience with the refereeing the following year vs Barcelona are by far the most famous examples.
The Blues would go on to win the trophy when it seemed that they had no chance. After going down 3-1 away to Napoli, they pulled off a miraculous 4-1 comeback at Stamford Bridge.
They beat Benfica with relative ease, but that meant Barcelona would be waiting. Chelsea managed to reach past Barcelona and make it to the final, where they would finally lift the trophy they had become so obsessed with after defeating German giants Bayern Munich on their home ground.
All those close calls made the victory all the better, and the player says that there is no doubt that it was the best moment of his career.
"“There were many years when I was at Chelsea when success was very close — I think I’ve played in four or five semifinals and also lost a final against Manchester United, so to actually win it in 2012 was extra sweet and undoubtedly the best night of my career to date.”“I’d love City to do the same and I think it’s the club’s next step. There will be disappointments along the way and I know that there have been some hard times in this competition in recent years — but that’s what happens when you are up against the best.”"
City really are moving in the right direction, but they have had much heartbreak in the competition. They have done so well domestically in recent times, but they can’t seem to play with the same edge in Europe.
Sergio Aguero’s inspired performance against Bayern in the group stages should certainly boost their confidence. The comeback put their mettle on exhibition, and showed that they are no longer pushovers, but with a rematch against Barcelona on the horizon — the team which knocked them out last year — it will surely be a different story.
City has what it takes to upset the Catalan giants, with Aguero’s form and the capture of center forward Wilfried Bony, they do stand a great chance. They will probably lift the trophy someday, but Lampard probably knows that he won’t be around when they do.