Why Txiki Begiristain Is Most Under Pressure for Man City After Win over Villa

When Frank Lampard’s loan spell at Manchester City from New York City was first announced, many felt it was just a convenient arrangement to help the player keep fit ahead of his new challenge in the MLS.

Rather than training on his own in an attempt to keep himself sharp, it made sense to join in with City’s sessions. A League Cup appearance or two wouldn’t harm him, either, and City’s younger players could learn from a man who left Chelsea after 13 years, having become their all-time leading scorer and winning three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, a Champions League, a Europa League and two League Cups.

How wrong that assessment looks now. Such is his quality and ability to read the game, to be one step ahead of others on the pitch, Lampard has become an important part of City’s first-team squad, and the pressure is now increasing on the club’s director of football Txiki Begiristain to extend his deal.

The MLS season doesn’t begin until March, meaning Lampard could conceivably stay throughout January and February, covering for Yaya Toure’s absence when he goes to play in the African Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast.

He may be 36, but Lampard has shown already at City just what he can offer. Late surges into the box, a goal threat, vision and technical proficiency which sees him able to control matches from midfield, a game-changing substitute who gives the opposition a new problem to deal with. He’s been superb.

And he adds something new to an already diverse midfield. Fernando is City’s out-and-out defensive option, the kind who concerns himself mostly with screening the back four. Fernandinho is all energy and industry, a box-to-box hybrid player who can adapt his role depending on the situation. Yaya Toure is a unique player, all pace, power and long-range goals, a proposition that, when on song, is difficult to contain.

Lampard is an intelligent, experienced player who sees things others don’t. Technically excellent, he can spray balls around the midfield and expand City’s play, with his knack of arriving late into the box and carving out goalscoring opportunities his most striking ability.

He’s brought a new dimension to City and, other than a rusty 45 minutes at the Emirates on his debut, has looked comfortable every time he’s stepped on to the field. 

Whether he stays beyond his current deal remains to be seen, but the likelihood of such a scenario increases with each match. Asked after the 7-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday whether he will stay on, Lampard was predictably cautious, telling David McDonnell of the Mirror:

"

It’s quite simple. I’m contracted to the start of January and that’s how it is at the moment.

When I signed for City on loan, six weeks or so ago, it was always until January and that’s the way it remains, so I wouldn’t want to get too far ahead of myself. It’s not my place to do that. Obviously it would be a club decision, first and foremost, anyway.

I signed on here until January, so that’s all I can say at the minute. I honestly don’t know. I’ll train and play as well as I can and the rest is up to the club.

"

His words suggested he feels there’s room for manoeuvre, and if there is an opportunity for the club to extend his deal and cover for Toure's absence, they would be mad not to do so. He's settled quickly and adds value to an already star-studded midfield, giving the City fans an opportunity to assess his quality close up and really appreciate his excellence.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.