Frank Lampard had nothing left to prove in London, but has everything to prove in New York. Chelsea’s all-time scorer left the city where he was born, raised and became a star, to come to New York City FC. He has heard about the demanding fans and knows the treatment he’ll get over his decade-old 9/11 controversy.
The only thing the veteran midfielder asks? Give him an opportunity, a second chance to make a first impression.
“I’ve always been interested in another challenge. I could have probably stayed in Chelsea in some capacity, carried on playing. … But I didn’t want that. I wanted more than that,’’ Lampard told The Post. “The idea of coming to a city like this and playing, I was overwhelmed.’’
At 36, Lampard — who inked a two-year deal with New York City FC — will surely find the travel and the heat a new challenge, but said he’s prepared for that. Lampard, who has vacationed in the U.S. for the past nine years, must also be prepared to mend fences for reported past indiscretions.
He sat with The Post at Brooklyn Bridge Park, glancing at the Manhattan skyline where the Twin Towers had stood. The irony is thick, because the day after the attacks he was reportedly involved in an incident at London’s Heathrow Airport, where he allegedly accosted stranded American tourists grieving in the wake of the attacks.
“My regret would be that I was a naïve young boy to be out on that day. If it was now, I wouldn’t be doing that at all and putting myself in a spot to get shot at,’’ Lampard told The Post. “What I can say for sure and categorically is I didn’t insult anybody. That’s not me. Unfortunately it was misreported. I’d love to tell New Yorkers that.
“In my time at Chelsea, I’ve built up a reputation not just as a player but as a person off the pitch. Being a captain, a leader, trying to be responsible and now a father — I’ve got two kids — I want to show New York that side of me. I’ve got to explain it in the right way because it’s a big deal to me. That picture painted there wasn’t right.’’
Lampard wouldn’t say what was wrong about reports he and then-teammates John Terry, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Jody Morris mocked American travelers after a drinking session at an airport hotel, stripping, cursing and vomiting in front of them.
One source said New York City FC’s front office had concerns and questioned Lampard about it, but were satisfied with the answers. Another claimed Lampard had been out with the trio but actually left and wasn’t present at the time of the incident, but out of loyalty stoically accepted being fined two weeks’ wages.
“I was naïve, and that’s my biggest regret, to be out. [It was misreported] and that was difficult to me,’’ Lampard told The Post, glancing sideways at the Freedom Tower.
“Obviously it’s such a sensitive issue, and not just in New York — I know it’s a huge deal here — but around the world. I was very aware of the sensitivities to it from the beginning. I’m not casual about it at all. I respect that I’m coming to this city now to try to show the person I am off the pitch as well as on the pitch.’’
New York sporting director Claudio Reyna played against Lampard while at Manchester City — which co-owns NYC FC with the Yankees — and vouched not only for Lampard’s skill, but his character.
“He is a professional, a leader and he ticked all the boxes in terms of the qualities to grow our team,’’ Reyna said. “[He’s] one of the greatest players over the last 15 years.’’
It is undecided whether Lampard will join new NYC FC teammate David Villa on loan at Melbourne City FC in Australia.
NYC FC hopes to have news next month regarding a training facility, with sources saying Westchester is likely.
Coach Jason Kreis said it was as huge benefit to have both Lampard and Villa available from the start of the season in March.
“For me, players that enter in the middle of the season are typical fails, Kreis said. “The chances for those players to really contribute meaningfully in a second half of a season in MLS are very, very small. We made that a particular area that we wanted to inform leadership about, that we want our full team in place at the start of preseason at the end of January 2015.’’