Chelsea interim boss Frank Lampard has admitted he tried to sign Erling Haaland during his first spell as manager at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s clash versus Manchester City this Sunday, Lampard said: “I’ve got huge respect for him. He is a player I tried to bring to Chelsea when I was here.
I was very keen to get him but obviously that couldn’t happen.
“Credit to him I love seeing players of that level.
“In terms of having to deal with him you have to have a plan and an idea but players of that level can make anything happen at any moment.”
During his debut campaign, Haaland has broken the record for the most goals scored in a single Premier League season after netting 36 times in 33 appearances for the Citizens.
City have the chance to secure the Premier League title this weekend at the Etihad Stadium if they beat 11th-placed Chelsea.
Pep Guardiola’s side are in both the FA Cup final and the Champions League final, which sets the club in good stead to win the ‘treble’, an accolade that has only been achieved by Sir Alex Ferguson’s 1999 Manchester United team.
City will face Erik ten Hag’s United at Wembley on the third of June before their clash in Istanbul 10 days later against Inter Milan.
Mark Marston | Get Football
