Chelsea star Frank Lampard: I\m not finished yet

Posted Wednesday, August 03, 2011 by The Sun

$Chelsea star Frank Lampard: I\m not finished yet$

FRANK LAMPARD still thrives on the unforgiving nature of football as he passes a 10-year milestone at Chelsea.

The midfielder insists he is far from finished despite another punishing season looming.

Lampard, 33, is used to fighting the usual enemies of fatigue and fierce competition to perform at the highest level - but now a new adversary is starting to creep up on him - his age.

Yet while the battle against the bodyclock gets tougher, Lampard claims he remains as hungry as he was when he signed for Chelsea from West Ham for £11million in 2001 and is determined to play for as long as possible.

He said: "I think the age thing has changed. People are pretty quick to write you off once you get into your 30s but they have proved to be a lot of players' best years.

"Ryan Giggs was outstanding against us in the Champions League quarter-final last season - and in a lot of other games - at 37 years old.

"If you look after yourself, keep motivated, which is very important, know your body, do the right things and manage yourself well, then you can certainly have your best years in your 30s.

"There's a lovely mix at this level. I love playing, I love the sport and the basics of going out to play football.

"But I also love the stuff that comes with it at the top.

"I'd still enjoy playing if it were at Sunday league level, but I like the cut-throat mentality at this level, where you have to keep on top of your game no matter what because, if you drop, you're out of it.

"That's what drives me on, I like being at the top. You should always be self-driven, regardless.

"But the competition of playing at a club like this means that you know, year in, year out, things will move on, players will come in or move up from the youth team and you have to stay on top of your game."

Lampard is the pros' pro. His work ethic and training regime are revered throughout the game. It was instilled from his days in the West Ham youth team.

It goes some way to explain why he was voted Player of the Tournament as Chelsea won the Asia Cup at the weekend.

It is why he still has two years left on a £150,000-a-week contract and is considered relatively good value for money.

New Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas has used the experience of Lampard wisely in pre-season, mindful that his midfielder missed four months of last season with a groin injury that refused to go quietly and grew more and more complicated. Lamps is now fully fit and recharged and has played a full part in the build-up to the big kick-off at Stoke on August 14.

His quality will be tested like never before as he seeks to impress a new manager and keep prodigious talents such as teenage midfielder Josh McEachran at bay.

He is also fuelled by the sense of failure, having seen Manchester United win the title and Chelsea end the season potless - which ultimately led to the sacking of manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Lampard told Chelsea magazine: "I think it does motivate us. We've had a great six or seven years in which we've won a lot of trophies and it's not possible to win every year - no team does that.

"So, although it's a disappointment, you have to put it into perspective. But, at the same time, that is a great motivation because, once you do win, you start getting a bit greedy and hungry for more.

"Watching everyone else celebrate when you're not makes you hungry as well, so there will be a real determination among the squad and the management this year to put that right.

"I'm self-driven. I want to improve myself again, I want to have a good season, I want to have a full season without injury and, of course, I want to win things.

"I come back with that attitude every year. Once you've had a month off, you start getting hungry to return and win things for your club.

"When you get older you do understand that the end will come, so I'm just trying to enjoy it and prolong it.

"I will try to stay playing and being able to contribute in a positive way to the club for as long as I possibly can.

"I feel very fresh and, after missing pre-season with injury last year, it's nice to come back without those worries and to feel fresh from the start.

"I'm enjoying the thought of getting really fit and to get up and running really quickly."