LAMPS HANDS IT TO GREALISH
the 14-time European champs Real Madrid 4-0, he spent his evening watching Sheffield Wednesday’s simply brilliant League One play-off semi-final victory over Peterborough.
Guardiola said: “I watched Sheffield Wednesday v Peterborough.
“They (Wednesday) were 4-0 down, then 4-0 up, then extra-time and penalties.
“In my mind, that can only happen in England. I can’t imagine I would see that game in Spain or Germany or Italy. It is impossible.
“It was live on Sky and in other countries they don’t do that.
“Everywhere else they respect the top, top clubs because they have more followers than the other ones.
“But here in England, the respect for the lower divisions is… hats off.
“That’s why this country is special. How many were there, 33,000? Packed full after losing the first leg 4-0 is crazy!
“In other countries, at 4-0, no chance. It was 4-4 and after that it went 5-4 and 5-5 and then penalties!
“This is England and it is unique. That is why I am a long time here. I love it.”
FRANK LAMPARD marvels at a “really complete player” when he watches Jack Grealish play these days and is delighted to see the level the Manchester City and England midfielder is now operating at.
In fact, so impressed has the interim Chelsea boss (left) been with Grealish that he doesn’t even mind him breaking records he set during his own illustrious career.
On Wednesday, as City demolished Real Madrid, the £100million man overtook Lampard’s mark for the highest number of chances created by an Englishman in a single Champions League campaign when he took his tally to 35.
And with some playful sarcasm, Lampard, whose Chelsea side face Grealish and Co today, said: “I saw that, I enjoyed watching that come about – I was three out of the top five!
“I love Jack Grealish, I’m a huge fan and always have been. You watch players come through, especially when they are young English players with quality and personality, and he has both in abundance.
“There were a lot of eyes on the money they paid Aston Villa for him and big question marks to a degree, whether that was right or wrong.
“And what he has shown is how he has taken his game forward in terms of his work ethic off the ball and being part of that team structure that they have at Manchester City.
“Also, what he does on the ball, which is always improving.
“With his awareness and his skill, he has been a real credit to himself and a credit to what I’ve spoken about before generally to the team, in that if you don’t show what needs to be done on the pitch, you won’t get in there.
“Not all players react well to that situation and Jack has by absolutely reacted brilliantly. He’s a top-class player.”
Lampard has defended Chelsea’s decision to pull Carney Chukwuemeka out of England’s Under-20s World Cup squad despite the fact he has hardly played for the Blues this season.
The midfielder, 19, was due to jet out to Argentina with the rest of the Young Lions on Tuesday.
However, injuries to N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic forced Chelsea to block his departure.
Lampard added: “Coming here was a big move for Carney and he hasn’t managed to get so many minutes.
“Hopefully there’s an opportunity
now.”