Looking for a common denominator in New York City FC’s wins over the Philadelphia Union and the Seattle Sounders?
His name is Frank Lampard.
In his first two starts of the 2016 MLS season, Lampard has also scored his first two goals of the year, both coming in the first half of those victories.
It is the second time he has scored in consecutive games for NYCFC, having also done so in a 2-1 win at Vancouver on Sept. 26, 2015 and in a 2-1 loss at D.C. United on Oct. 2, 2015.
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“I feel good. I couldn’t ask for more, well maybe I could because if I was sharper I might even have more than two goals,” Lampard said. “The match sharpness is certainly getting there. With this week’s training I’d like to think I’d be very close to that against the Red Bulls on the weekend. I want to keep contributing.”
And the best way Lampard can contribute, as has been the case in his celebrated career in England, is by scoring goals.
“It’s a long time out injured. It’s difficult. You can’t answer any questions when you’re injured,” Lampard said. “All you can do is work hard behind the scenes to get fit. But when I’m playing I always had the confidence that I’d come back in and do what I’ve tried to do all my career, which is help to score goals, create goals and basically help the team to win.”
While Lampard’s most obvious contribution is in the attacking third, there are more positives about his regular inclusion in the lineup.
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“Not only for the goals, Frank is very important for us for all the things he gives to the team,” David Villa said. “Now with him we are a more experienced team, he is very good on the pitch, he always wins the ball, he gives solution for the centerbacks, for the right back, for Andoni [Iraola] in the midfield and it’s much easier. With him, I think we play better for our backs because Frank and [Andrea] Pirlo help a lot with the balls to the backline.”
Lampard said he is also getting more comfortable working with Villa in front of him, Iraola and Pirlo behind him and players like Tommy McNamara and Jack Harrison on the wings.
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“It’s been nice to see fluency in our play,” Lampard said. “From back to front our passing is better, we’re creating more chances, we defended better in Seattle, for sure. That’s good. You need some consistency in a team.”
