JACK NOW ‘COMPLETE’ FOR LAMPS
FRANK LAMPARD loves what a “complete player” Jack Grealish has become since his £100million Etihad move in 2021.
In fact, so impressed has the interim Chelsea boss been with Manchester City and England star Grealish that he doesn’t even mind him breaking records he set during his own illustrious playing career.
On Wednesday, as City beat Real Madrid, Grealish (below) overtook Lampard’s benchmark for the highest number of chances created by an Englishman in a single Champions League campaign as 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 [stats table] come up – 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 Jack has both in abundance.
“There were a lot of eyes on the price Manchester City paid for him, and big question marks on 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 there.
“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 absolutely reacted brilliantly.
“Only he and Pep Guardiola would know the story of their time together exactly. It’s a credit to them both, obviously, but it’s full credit to Jack – now he looks a really complete player.”
Lampard, who is thinking of his future beyond next week when his interim spell with Chelsea ends, revealed: “There’s nothing concrete.”
But he will look at Guardiola, who like him won the lot as a player, in the opposite dugout today, and added: “Knowing Pep a little, it’s clear he has an incredible football brain and an amazing work ethic.
“If I can try to follow that in my own way, that’s the best that I can do.”