Lampard: Shield row won’t hurt international relations
CHELSEA’S Frank Lampard is adamant that bad blood between Blues and Manchester United players will not affect the England squad ahead of tomorrow’s friendly against Holland.
United were incensed at Lampard’s goal in Sunday’s Community Shield, which Chelsea won on penalties after a 2-2 draw. The midfielder’s strike came while United defender Patrice Evra lay prone following an off-the-ball challenge from the Blues’ Michael Ballack.
With United and Chelsea players making up six of the 23-man squad, any lingering bitterness had scope to poison the atmosphere in the camp before the trip to Amsterdam.
But while Lampard conceded the Premier League champions had grounds to feel aggrieved, he argued there was little room for resentment as United players would have done the same.
“There has not been much banter. We know how these things go. We’ve been on the receiving end in more important games than that, it’s just a bit of luck and it was a good game for us to win,” said Lampard.
“I think it was a foul looking back at it. It wasn’t an elbow or body-check like has been said. You play on until the ref blows the whistle. Man U have done it in the first half a couple of times when he the referee didn’t blow. You play on – it’s cut and dried really.”
Lampard stressed the importance of the Holland clash for gauging fitness levels and easing players back into international duty ahead of next month’s World Cup qualifier against Croatia.
England colleague Glen Johnson, however, struck an altogether more nonchalant tone and appeared more focused on Liverpool’s league opener against Tottenham on Sunday.
He said: “The lads will be treating it as another pre-season game. We’ll be taking it as a friendly, it would be nice to come away with a win.”