Sunday 6 March 2016 08:53, UK
Ahead of the start of the new MLS season, Sky Sports caught up with Frank Lampard to hear about life under New York City boss Patrick Vieira, playing with Andrea Pirlo and the prospect of facing old team-mate Ashley Cole.
The former Chelsea and England midfielder is braced for his first full season in the States, having joined NYCFC last summer, midway through their inaugural term.
Lampard and his team-mates kick-off Sky Sports' live MLS coverage with a trip to Chicago Fire on Sunday and after a full pre-season under his belt, he told Geoff Shreeves he is gunning for silverware in 2016...
What are your thoughts on Patrick Vieira being named the new New York City manager?
"I think he's going to be great for us. I obviously played against Patrick. He's probably one of the greatest players in the modern era of the Premier League. I've seen him coaching at Manchester City for the last few years.
"Fair play to him because people who have been great players don't always want to go and do the dirty work. He's worked with the kids on cold Manchester mornings at the back of the training ground. I've seen them do it and he's certainly earned his stripes there.
"For us, I hope he ups our level. The players will respect him and when he speaks they will listen because of what he's done in the game."
What do New York City need to progress?
"We need to work hard. Pre-season is massive for us because it's five to six weeks where we can really work individually to get fit. Looking back on our first year as a team, you throw 20 players in and you hope it happens straight away. It doesn't always work that way so we need to work hard as a group on how we play, defend as a team and attack as a team.
"Then the massive thing for us will be the start. We start away in Chicago and then we've got four games at home. We need to start well because we were playing catch-up all last season which is desperate stuff. I'd like us to start well and be confident from the beginning."
When you are in a city like New York and you are a football club for the city, you have got to be successful. It's a serious place and you can't be a bottom of the league team.
How have the New York City fans taken to you?
"It's been really good. Living in New York, I've felt very welcome in the city and felt very welcome by the fans. They've been great. We've had quite a few games when we've not played well at home and lost the game. They never stopped supporting us, didn't stop coming the next week and I felt their support personally. They support all the individual players.
"This year it's time to give back a bit. Not just me but the whole team. We need to play well and get some wins. When you are in a city like New York and you are a football club for the city, you have got to be successful. It's a serious place and you can't be a bottom of the league team. We need to go and win something."
You say it's a serious place but I did see you have a chuckle when the New York Red Bulls' fans held up the banner of you and Andrea Pirlo with walking sticks...
"That was nice. I looked at Pirlo before the game and we pointed at the big banner there. I was gutted because I went clear through early in the game but hit my shot wide. I was desperate to score and do the old man with the walking stick celebration."
NYCFC's season was a bit like your own, a stuttering start. Do you feel like you are making a fresh start?
"I do. It was well documented I came late. I got injured straight away and missed six weeks to two months in the end. I was playing catch-up myself. Now I've got a great chance to have a good pre-season and Andrea Pirlo is here from the beginning as well.
"I'm confident actually. I think we've got a good squad and I think we are going to add to it and change it further. I know there's a bit of talk about a few drafts and how we are going to change the team and the squad. Generally, I hope we'll have a good season and the play-offs are a must for us."
You've played against him and now alongside him, Pirlo, how good is he?
"He's a great player. I knew he was a great player from playing against him. His passing and awareness are second to none. He'll receive the ball anywhere and it's great to play alongside someone like that. The weight of his pass, his through balls and confidence on the ball are superb.
"Our problem last year and a problem for him was that we didn't get him on the ball enough. When you've got a player who is so good at dictating play we need to try and get him on the ball as much as we can, then he will find people with his passing.
From talking to the likes of Kaka, David Villa and Pirlo, they are not just here for the ride and for the money, they still have that same mentality. They want to win trophies.
"It's an easy thing to throw at the MLS. We're guilty of doing it in England where we say players go there because they are old and it's nowhere near as good as the Premier League.
"Firstly, you can't compare it to the Premier League. It's established and probably the best league in the world for us. Secondly, when you get behind the scenes in the MLS and speak to players, they are coming in to win. You don't want to embarrass yourself.
"If you come in with the attitude that it's easy then you will embarrass yourself because the league is competitive, the players are fit, it's a very level playing field and week in week out you can lose games as easily as you can win them. And you're right, players like David Villa, he's really upset when we lose games. He wants to do better. We want to walk away from here when we finish this experience and say we won something."
Ashley Cole is joining LA Galaxy. Will MLS suit him and will he suit the MLS?
"It works both ways. He's a quality and experienced player. I would have loved to have had him at New York, let's put it that way because you just cannot buy that experience. He's still fit and he's still hungry for success. I've spoken to him about it and I know he's still hungry.
"It will definitely be a fit for both. If he comes here and plays with the quality he's got it will certainly be a help for his team. The MLS should be happy also. It's another huge name coming here."
How aware are you of the profile and the awareness of MLS growing, even in the short time you've been here?
"I'm very aware of it. I've been told the stats shows that it's the fastest growing sport in America but you can feel the people that are watching it. The fact we are watching it back home in England, the fact we are sitting here and there people from all over the world that are covering the MLS.
"Big names are coming here and I think more and more big names will come here. The league is growing and that makes it exciting to be a part of. When you come here you have to first of all be successful on the pitch, but you have to take on the responsibility of helping the league to grow."
Apart from the stellar names, could you pick out three players that we can look out for in the MLS this season?
"I can and that's the strength of the MLS. There are actually some players that I wasn't completely aware of that have played. I remember we went to Dallas last year and they had two great wingers, who were quick and tricky on the ball. One of them was Fabian Castillo. He's a player to watch.
"One at New York is Kwadwo Poku. He's a good story. He came from the lower leagues and got plucked out. He's got raw talent. He's good on the ball, he's exciting, he can make things happen and I think he can develop his game. Hopefully, Vieira and us around him can help him do that."
"After that I'll go with Bradley Wright-Phillips. He's a player we all know. We know his dad and a bit about his career. He didn't have a huge career in the Premier League but fair play to him, he's come to the MLS and prolifically scored goals every season he's been here."
Watch the MLS live on Sky Sports, starting with Chicago Fire v New York City FC, live on Sky Sports 1 from 7pm on Sunday March 6 or via our live blog on skysports.com and the Sky Sports apps.
