“That’s my opinion” – Frank Lampard responds to Jurgen Klopp’s Man City comments

Everton manager Frank Lampard has responded to comments made by Jurgen Klopp and glowed with praise for the work of Manchester City both on and off the pitch.

Last week also saw Jurgen Klopp cause controversy following comments he made about Manchester City and their market spending.

The Liverpool boss spectacularly claimed that the Anfield side could not compete with City in regards to spending and subsequently on the pitch.

That came prior to the Merseyside club winning 1-0 against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

Addressing Klopp’s comments ahead of Everton’s visit to St James Park, Lampard said: “I think in modern football, everyone has a different position, a different perspective and sometimes it changes. Sometimes it’s the reason we embrace and love the Premier League.

“I lived the Chelsea story as a player, I viewed it and touched on it as a Manchester City player for a year. There are a lot of stories purely from a football level which you can embrace and love.

“I saw City got voted the club of the year last night for the many good things I know they do on and off the pitch. So everybody is different.

“Financial Fair Play is a bit strange for me, I never understand it because if it was financially fair, there are a lot of teams who have lot more income than we do who can spend a lot more on players and wages. That’s the story of the modern game, it’s all relative.”

Lampard admitted that he ‘understood’ Klopp’s comments but suggested Liverpool had managed to compete with City over the last few years by winning the Premier League, FA Cup and appearing in three Champions League Finals. The former England midfielder stated that clubs with strong financial backing have become the norm in the top tier and that is ‘the way it is.’.

He said: “Liverpool have competed with them (Manchester City) with great coaching, great players, and great recruitment. They brought in Virgil van Dijk, Alisson, all of these players. While being strong, they can keep strengthening and changing. Maybe you view it at this moment in time with Liverpool and the form they have had, they’re clearly going to be back up amongst it.

“I understand what he’s saying to a degree, I can probably say the same when we talk about Newcastle. We’re not there because they can spend £200 million in two windows and we can’t. Our net spend is much less.

“If that’s his point, I completely get it. But I think the debate afterwards which has carried on is questioning whether it should be allowed, and are these clubs competing at a different level. Maybe they are, but maybe that’s just the Premier League and the way that it is.

“I don’t think it’s the worst thing, I particularly look at the story I was involved in as a player and Manchester City which I touched on, and particularly when I think about City and how they handle themselves on and off the pitch, I think they are a fantastic example. That’s my opinion.”