One Moment in Time: Bolt from the Blues by Lampard | OneFootball

Ahead of Sunday's Premier League home clash against Chelsea, our latest deep dive into the archives sees us travel back to 2014 for Frank Lampard's strike against his former club.

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Lampard admitted that putting on the sky blue shirt of City rather than the royal blue of Chelsea after eight glory-laden years at Stamford Bridge felt ‘genuinely strange’ as he was welcomed as a new signing at the official photoshoot to mark his arrival.

So imagine how he felt coming up against his former club - and then scoring against them!

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After medals for three Premier League wins, four FA Cups, two League Cups, as well as Europa League and Champions League triumphs at the Londoners, Lampard was one of six new faces head-into the 2014/15 season for City.

He was joined by Bacary Sagna, Fernando, Willy Caballero, Bruno Zuculini and Eliaquim Mangala as Manuel Pellegrini reshaped his squad for a new challenge.

Lampard made his debut in a 2-2 away draw with Arsenal at the Emirates in September 2014.

And the following week came the big one against Jose Mourinho’s table-toppers.

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And, in the irony of ironies, Chelsea’s record goalscorer came on to blast home a late leveller in an 1-1 draw at the Etihad.

It looked like Chelsea had earned the points courtesy of Andre Schurrle on 71 minutes.

But with the clock ticking down to full-time, James Milner turned a cross back into the path of the onrushing Lampard who volleyed past former teammate Thibaut Courtois.

Pellegrini said in his post-match press conference that he had a feeling Lampard would score.

And, speaking to us as part of our ‘Once a Blue’ feature interview in 2024, Lampard admitted he had the same feeling on a day which provoked a ‘lot of emotions’.

“If I’m honest, I did have the feeling I’d score too,” Lampard said.

“When Manuel signalled me for me to come on, I’m not silly, I knew he was probably doing it because of the opposition and what this game meant to me personally – the ex-player coming back and making a difference against his former club.

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“So I sensed it as I was getting changed on the line. I wondered if I had enough time to impact the game, though.

“It was a pretty surreal day for me. Everyone made a huge deal of it and I understand why but, for me, I was proud to score for my new club, that professional instinct and I was very pleased but also very respectful of Chelsea.

“There was a little bit of fate in it, of course. Maybe I had some inside info on when to make the runs coming up against my old teammates at Chelsea. And it just happened.

“Chelsea had let me leave a few months before and I was very respectful of that. But my job was to go out and impress and make an impact with my new club.

“The fact it endeared me a little more to the fans and my teammates was great. It does stick in my mind and it was a surreal day.”

All told he made 38 appearances for City during a solitary season, scoring eight goals in total and was afforded a glorious goodbye during his final game for us and indeed his final match in the Premier League scoring the opener in a 2-0 victory over Southampton before departing for our sister club, New York City.

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We welcome an entertaining Brighton side to the Etihad at 19:30 (UK) on Wednesday 7 January.

And with tickets now on general sale, you could be there to see it!

Fans can now claim three tickets each, with adults from £30 and concessions as low as £15.

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