Frank Lampard has said MLS doesn’t get the credit it deserves back home in England.
Lampard ended his illustrious playing career in the North American top flight, playing for New York City FC in 2015 and 2016 after a trophy-filled career spent mostly with Chelsea.
The ex-England star is now back in the U.S. as Everton manager, as the Toffees embark on a preseason tour that will see them face Arsenal in Baltimore on Saturday and then Minnesota United in St. Paul on Wednesday.
Lampard said it’s difficult to follow MLS closely nowadays due to the demands of his job with Everton as well as the lack of matches on English television, but says fans in the U.K. should give the league more respect.
“In England we don’t get to see a great deal of MLS,” Lampard told Pro Soccer Wire. “I feel fortunate I came to play here and realized the growth of the game when I was here playing.
“I think it has continued to grow, fans in the stadiums in MLS, the level of quality in MLS. In England it’s quite a dated view, like MLS is down here and European football is up here. Now that gap might take time to close but I think the football here is a lot better than people at home give it credit for.”
Lampard said that the league will continue to snap up its fair share of older European stars – a category he once fell under – including the recent signing of Gareth Bale, but said that the increasing quality of homegrown North American players is what will see the league truly thrive over the long term.
“I think the more important thing than the DPs (Designated Players), and it’s great seeing Gareth here, it’s great to watch, but the important thing for the league is growing from within,” Lampard said.
“When you look at the national American players now, [Christian] Pulisic, Tyler Adams and more traveling and playing in Europe and creating this great team, and they’re putting everything together. I think it shows you that it’s going to get much stronger. The talent is already here and the sport is growing so I only see it going in one direction.”
Emily Olsen contributed reporting to this story
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