MAN CITY SOUTHAMPTON
FRANK LAMPARD showed Steven Gerrard how to bid a proper farewell to the Premier League as his goal set City on course for a sixth consecutive victory.
The midfi elder’s goodbye to the English game has been far less emotional and less drawn- out than that of his Liverpool counterpart, but altogether more successful and worthy of his special talents.
“I spoke before the game with the whole squad and said it was important to fi nish the season here with a win in front of our own fans,” said manager Manuel Pellegrini.
“But it was also important for Frank. He deserves the farewell all the people, our fans, gave him here today.
“It was the perfect afternoon, the perfect goodbye for him and he deserves it, for his brilliant career and the fact he is a great person.”
Sergio Aguero’s late goal wrapped up the points but, with the Lampard love- in just one sub- plot of the afternoon, City supporters had their sights set more on two of his fellow midfi elders.
James Milner is out of contract this summer and widely expected to leave the Etihad in search of more regular fi rst- team football – possibly as a replacement for Gerrard at Anfi eld – while Yaya Toure’s controversial agent has cast repeated doubts over whether his client wants to stay.
Lampard, Milner and Toure were brought off early, allowing the fans to pay tribute, although Pellegrini said Milner and Toure were only replaced because of injury worries.
“We will see, not only with those two names, who will stay here,” said Pellegrini. “James said he would take a decision at the end of the season. We must respect that. He is a very important player and gave us a lot of spirit, but he must decide.”
Pellegrini’s own future looks more solid than was the case before the six- game winning streak that brought the campaign to an end and he has become increasingly insistent in recent weeks that he will be back at the helm in July. Chairman Khaldoon Al