Tuesday 24 March 2015 23:45, UK
Frank Lampard insists he has no regrets about his final Premier League season and is looking forward to finally making the move to the United States.
The former England midfielder is playing out the season with Manchester City before joining their sister club New York City in the summer - a move he was initially expected to make in January after leaving Chelsea last year.
The decision to extend his short-term deal to train and play with the league champions to the end of the campaign was criticised in the United States - especially given his lack of playing time in the second half of the season - but the 36-year-old has no regrets about his spell at the Etihad Stadium.
At 36, I got asked to come to the champions and a club with this pedigree. I am delighted that happened as it has done, and I am delighted about the future and the opportunity to go and play in New York.
"I am very excited. I am very fortunate about this part of my career, coming to City. It was something I never saw coming," he said.
"At 36, I got asked to come to the champions and a club with this pedigree. I am delighted that happened as it has done, and I am delighted about the future and the opportunity to go and play in New York."
NYCFC - a new venture for City's owner Sheikh Mansour - have played their first three MLS games and Lampard is looking forward to being part of a brand new club.
"I've watched their games and thought they looked fantastic, the home game particularly. I thought the atmosphere in the ground, the crowd - I've had feedback from inside the club about what a buzz there is for it in the city. I was delighted for the lads.
"There were question marks over it before - this is a completely new thing for so many of us. Who knows? What I do know is the people behind the scenes have done an amazing job. I hope it goes from strength to strength."
Lampard admits he has already checked the calendar to see when he will play against Steven Gerrard, who is moving to LA Galaxy at the end of the season.
"August 23!" Lampard said, without hesitation, when asked if he knew when the two clubs were due to meet. "It's at their place.
"I am pleased for Stevie. I think it is a very good move for him and I think it is great for the league. People in Europe at the top leagues are talking about MLS. Players will go there.
"I look forward to being competitive against Stevie. We get on very well, particularly in our latter years as captain and vice-captain of England. I have a huge amount of respect for him."
