Lampard: Fans used to call me crap... Now they call me old and crap!
Published 22:30 07/09/11 By John Cross
Frank Lampard admits people used to call him crap - now they call him old and crap.
Lampard, 33, has rarely found his England career under such scrutiny after being axed, written off and then recalled all within the space of less than a week.
Chelsea midfielder Lampard admits that while being the centre of a national debate again has annoyed him but insists he can handle the criticism and will prove people wrong.
“I’ve been here before,” said Lampard.”I’ve had slow starts to seasons when I was 25-26, I had a World Cup which didn’t go well. I wasn’t told I was old then, I was just told I was crap!
“That is just the game. I honestly don’t mind. When I was 25, I probably would have had a different reaction to it all.
“Once you’ve been around the block a little bit, you understand how things are and my main aim is to play for Chelsea week in and week out.
“People can talk about my age for as long as they like. There is nothing better in football than proving people wrong and I’ll try and do that for as long as I can.”
Few England players divide opinion like Lampard. But after 88 caps and being one of England’s most prolific midfielders, his CV tells one story and his popularity among some fans another.
Lampard has won titles with Chelsea and was runner-up in the World Player of the Year after Ronaldinho going into the 2006 World Cup.
David Beckham, Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer are the only other English players to have finished in the top three of that award.
But whether it be jealousy of his or Chelsea’s success, Lampard has not always been given the respect his success deserves, especially by some England fans to the point of being booed at Wembley.
It would even seem his demise from being a guaranteed starter for England is being enjoyed in some quarters.
However, that is something else that Lampard claims will only inspire him as he insisted he has no intention of retiring from international football even though he recognises that not even he can go on forever.
Lampard was dropped in Bulgaria, started against Wales and yet even he admitted his performance was not vintage but claims he has always made a habit of starting every season slowly.
“I’ve never expected to play for England, I’m very proud to play for England and if your form is good, the manager will pick you,” said Lampard.
“A lot does get spoken and I’ve seen and heard bits of it but I’m actually of an age now and a maturity where I have been in this situation before, post World Cup 2006 and stuff like that.
“I want to be a big part of the squad. It’s simple and sometimes I don’t know what the fuss was all about this week.
“I’ll always want to play and that is what will drive you on. If you come here, and are not bothered to play, and are just happy to sit on the bench, there is probably not much point in turning up.
“I think you’ve got to want to play. If you don’t play, you’ve got to be professional and deal with it in the right way.
“You’ve got to contribute when you come on (as a substitute), you’ve got to train hard in the week and that’s what I’ll try to do. That’s just part of being a footballer.
“I understand at 38-40 years of age I certainly won’t be playing for England but I’d rather be sitting on the settee thinking I gave everything to play while I can rather thank thinking I ducked out and could have done my country a bit more.
“As when you are young, you shouldn’t be ruled out because of your age I think it’s the same the other end of the age scale.
“As long as you are showing the energy and desire to play and quality for your clubs every week, and when you come here with England, then I think he’ll (Capello) pick you and as long as he does that, I’ll still keep turning up.
“But no excuses. I’m going to hopefully be on top form very soon. We’ve only played three games. I’ve not flown out of the blocks, I don’t think Chelsea have as a group.
“I’d love to get to 100 caps but it’s not something I’m going to hang around and be trying to do if it’s not there. I’ll just be proud to play for as long as I can.
“There is only two ways I won’t play for England - a) if I don’t get picked which is fair enough and b) if I found it beneficial to my long term career on the Chelsea front. But I’ll certainly give everything I can while I can.”
Published 22:30 07/09/11 By John Cross
Frank Lampard admits people used to call him crap - now they call him old and crap.
Lampard, 33, has rarely found his England career under such scrutiny after being axed, written off and then recalled all within the space of less than a week.
Chelsea midfielder Lampard admits that while being the centre of a national debate again has annoyed him but insists he can handle the criticism and will prove people wrong.
“I’ve been here before,” said Lampard.”I’ve had slow starts to seasons when I was 25-26, I had a World Cup which didn’t go well. I wasn’t told I was old then, I was just told I was crap!
“That is just the game. I honestly don’t mind. When I was 25, I probably would have had a different reaction to it all.
“Once you’ve been around the block a little bit, you understand how things are and my main aim is to play for Chelsea week in and week out.
“People can talk about my age for as long as they like. There is nothing better in football than proving people wrong and I’ll try and do that for as long as I can.”
Few England players divide opinion like Lampard. But after 88 caps and being one of England’s most prolific midfielders, his CV tells one story and his popularity among some fans another.
Lampard has won titles with Chelsea and was runner-up in the World Player of the Year after Ronaldinho going into the 2006 World Cup.
David Beckham, Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer are the only other English players to have finished in the top three of that award.
But whether it be jealousy of his or Chelsea’s success, Lampard has not always been given the respect his success deserves, especially by some England fans to the point of being booed at Wembley.
It would even seem his demise from being a guaranteed starter for England is being enjoyed in some quarters.
However, that is something else that Lampard claims will only inspire him as he insisted he has no intention of retiring from international football even though he recognises that not even he can go on forever.
Lampard was dropped in Bulgaria, started against Wales and yet even he admitted his performance was not vintage but claims he has always made a habit of starting every season slowly.
“I’ve never expected to play for England, I’m very proud to play for England and if your form is good, the manager will pick you,” said Lampard.
“A lot does get spoken and I’ve seen and heard bits of it but I’m actually of an age now and a maturity where I have been in this situation before, post World Cup 2006 and stuff like that.
“I want to be a big part of the squad. It’s simple and sometimes I don’t know what the fuss was all about this week.
“I’ll always want to play and that is what will drive you on. If you come here, and are not bothered to play, and are just happy to sit on the bench, there is probably not much point in turning up.
“I think you’ve got to want to play. If you don’t play, you’ve got to be professional and deal with it in the right way.
“You’ve got to contribute when you come on (as a substitute), you’ve got to train hard in the week and that’s what I’ll try to do. That’s just part of being a footballer.
“I understand at 38-40 years of age I certainly won’t be playing for England but I’d rather be sitting on the settee thinking I gave everything to play while I can rather thank thinking I ducked out and could have done my country a bit more.
“As when you are young, you shouldn’t be ruled out because of your age I think it’s the same the other end of the age scale.
“As long as you are showing the energy and desire to play and quality for your clubs every week, and when you come here with England, then I think he’ll (Capello) pick you and as long as he does that, I’ll still keep turning up.
“But no excuses. I’m going to hopefully be on top form very soon. We’ve only played three games. I’ve not flown out of the blocks, I don’t think Chelsea have as a group.
“I’d love to get to 100 caps but it’s not something I’m going to hang around and be trying to do if it’s not there. I’ll just be proud to play for as long as I can.
“There is only two ways I won’t play for England - a) if I don’t get picked which is fair enough and b) if I found it beneficial to my long term career on the Chelsea front. But I’ll certainly give everything I can while I can.”
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