Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has played down the Hollywoodesque turn of events which saw Frank Lampard come back to haunt his former club inthe Blues’ 1-1 draw with Manchester City.
Blues legend Lampard, the London club’s record top goalscorer, shocked the Stamford Bridge faithful when he agreed a short switch to the Etihad Stadium this summer ahead of joining new MLS side New York City.
Many did not expect the former England midfielder to play a major role for the defending champions, but manager Manuel Pellegrini called upon his experience in the closing stages of the Premier League title contenders’ clash, and it seemed the script was already written.
After enduring a difficult first-half, Chelsea eventually took the lead on 71 minutes when World Cup winner Andre Schurrle found the net with a close-range tap-in.
But on came Lampard to silence his former fans and team-mates, as he bundled home a late cross to secure a dramatic point for the hosts.
Mourinho, however, couldn't see what all the fuss was about.
“For me, Frank Lampard is a Manchester City player,” said the Blues boss said of his former favourite.
“He has the same shirt, the same objective and the same ambition as the other City players, so for me he’s a Manchester City player... and that’s it.
“It’s not a story for me.
“It’s simple, a Man City player scores a goal and does his job. That’s what they pay him for, so it’s not a story for me.”
And, despite having their slim lead snatched away with five minutes remaining, Mourinho believes City deserved a share of the points following their superior first-half display.
“In the first-half they had more initiative than us, they pressed us and we didn’t any real danger,” the Blues boss added.
“Then we had an opportunity in the second-half to make it 2-0 and kill the game, but hit the post. So overall, if you split the game in the two halves, I think they deserved a point.
“But we arrived here with a two-point lead, and we leave with three-point lead, so it’s nothing unbelievable, just a positive weekend for us.”
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