Frank Lampard has revealed that he tried to sign in-form star Erling Haaland during his tenure in charge of Chelsea three years ago.
Haaland – who signed for Manchester City in the summer – has been a revelation since arriving in England and has already reached 20 Premier League goals before the new year.
However, things could’ve been very different – Lampard revealed – as he lifted the lid on Chelsea’s attempts to lure the Norwegian talisman to Stamford Bridge in 2019.
The City striker has settled extremely quickly in England and Lampard put that down to the player being able to perform at a ‘top level’ consistently.
‘I’ve got huge respect. I’ve coached against him in a pre-season game against Salzburg and I was sort of eyes wide open at this young boy who had just signed for Salzburg.
‘It was clear in our pre-match preparation what this boy was already. I tried to sign him at Chelsea, it wasn’t to be, and it was clear what he was going to become.’
Having already nullified the striker once in his managerial career, Lampard has called on his Everton side to put a stop to Haaland’s free-scoring form tomorrow afternoon.
‘You have to do all you can, it’s a very difficult task because of his qualities and his power, we’re all seeing it. There’s nothing but respect there when you watch it from afar,’ he said.
‘When you go against him you have to try and not give him the spaces that he wants, it’s as simple as that.
‘We have to do our best to do that and in our prep we’ll do that but, with a player of that talent, of course at any moment they can hurt you in their own way.’
The former Chelsea boss finished by comparing the City talisman to PSG stars Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi – claiming Haaland is also ‘in that bracket’.
‘Fair play to him because I know we’re going up against him tomorrow but I respect individuals at the top of their game.
‘We watched the World Cup and people like Messi and Mbappe in that final, it’s what football’s all about.
‘And Haaland has put himself into that bracket at a very young age.’
SOURCE: dailymail.co.uk
