Frank Lampard still playing like he's 18, says Pablo Zabaleta

Frank Lampard is "still playing like he's 18 years old" and
driving Manchester City's Premier League title race with
former club Chelsea, according to Pablo Zabaleta.
Full-back Zabaleta hailed Lampard's growing influence as the
City hierarchy consider whether to seek an extension to the
36-year-old's Etihad Stadium loan deal.
Former Chelsea and England midfielder Lampard fired his
174th Premier League goal in City's 3-0 victory at
Southampton on Sunday.
The ex-West Ham star is scheduled to join New York City
FC in January after leaving Chelsea last summer, but
Manchester City remain keen to extend his stay in the
northwest.
"For me what makes Frank Lampard special is how
professional he is in training: this is what I appreciate from
him," said Zabaleta.
"You see him at training: he is the first to arrive on the
training ground and the last to go home.
"He won everything with Chelsea, he's a legend in football and
he's still playing like he's 18 years old."
Lampard coolly slotted City's second and decisive goal at St
Mary's on Sunday, helping Manuel Pellegrini's side shrug off
a red card for defender Eliaquim Mangala.
City leapfrogged Saints into second place in the Premier
League table, closing the gap on leaders Chelsea to six points.
Lampard played the full 90 minutes in City's midweek 3-2
Champions League victory over Bayern Munich, before
climbing off the bench to cement his loan club's win at
Southampton.
Dependable defender Zabaleta said 106-cap former England
midfielder Lampard has boosted reigning champions City's early
league form, before hailing the continued form of striker
Sergio Aguero.
Aguero was booked by referee Mike Jones for diving even
though he was crudely upended by Saints defender Jose Fonte
and denied a clear penalty.
The in-form Argentina hitman channelled any frustrations to
play a hand in two of City's three goals, impressing again after
his vital hat-trick against Bayern.
"Frank was great, but I also think the whole team were
fantastic on Sunday," said Zabaleta. "We were very solid at
the back and we defended very well.
"Obviously we made the difference at the end with the great
finishes by Yaya Toure, Frank Lampard and Gael Clichy so I
am proud of the team because those three points are very well
deserved.
"Sergio has been fantastic for the team: at the moment he's
probably been one of the best players. That is always what you
expect from a top player. I hope Sergio can continue like that,
it's fantastic."