So, at the ripe old age of 33, Frank Lampard seems to be defending his position in the side more than Petr Cech’s goal lately.
With Josh McEachran getting himself noticed enough to be talked up as a replacement, questions are being asked of the midfielder who’s barely been out of the side for the past ten years. Lampard though, answers those questions insisting “I think the age thing has changed. People are pretty quick to write you off once you get into your 30s but they have proved to be a lot of players’ best years. If you look after yourself… do the right things, and manage yourself well, then you can certainly have your best years in your 30s.
Ryan Giggs was outstanding against us in the Champions League quarter-final last season – and in a lot of other games – at 37 years old. If you look after yourself, keep motivated, which is very important, know your body, do the right things, and manage yourself well, then you can certainly have your best years in your 30s.”
Certainly can’t argue the point when you use Ryan Giggs as an example and he’s by no means the only player to have gone on past what some consider his ‘prime’. Cafu, Figo, Maldini, Zanetti have all showed it can be done with a bit of positional tweaking, which is no doubt why AVB has already paid some attention to this pre-season.
According to Lampard though, he’d be happy just to play because he says “There’s a lovely mix at this level. I love playing, I love the sport and the basics of going out to play football. But I also love the stuff that comes with it at the top. I’d still enjoy playing if it were at Sunday league level, but I like the cut-throat mentality at this level, where you have to keep on top of your game no matter what because, if you drop, you’re out of it. That’s what drives me on, I like being at the top.”