Lambert: It Would Be Nice to See Blackburn Have a Real Run at Championship and Dortmund Can Beat Anyone at Home

Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , Borussia Dortmund and Celtic hero Paul Lambert has run the rule over the EFL and the biggest names in Europe .

The former Aston Villa , Wolves and Ipswich boss has assessed the starts made by Blackburn Rovers and Norwich City , offered advice to Aaron Ramsey at Oxford United , and welcomed York City back to the EFL .

Lambert has also given his verdict on the Champions League and the Ballon d'Or , backed Serhou Guirassy at Dortmund , and praised former loanee Troy Parrott for choosing Spain .

The Championship

What Are Your Thoughts on Blackburn Rovers' Start?

I think there's always expectation at Blackburn because of what happened when they won the Premier League . There has been a lot of animosity towards the owners, and I think that's still there. When I was there, that animosity was present, but there were some really nice people at the club. It's a great club with a lot of history. When you look at the Championship , with the transfer fees, it's like what the Premier League was 15 or 20 years ago, so it's difficult for them to compete against the bigger clubs.

But Blackburn are also a team that produce results when you don't expect them to, and then drop games when you think they'll win. They need to find that consistency. Tony Mowbray is an experienced, good manager and a good guy, and it would be nice to see Blackburn have a real run at it.

How About Norwich City's Start?

Given their fan base, stadium, training facilities, and history, Norwich should really be pushing for a play-off place. They had a good result against Sheffield United the other night, and they are definitely a club you expect to be competing at that level. The fans have an expectation because of their time in the Premier League , and they'll want to see them high up the table.

What's Your Advice to Aaron Ramsey at Oxford United?

That 4-0 win over Leicester is a huge result for them. The biggest danger now is not getting carried away. Leicester are going through a difficult period, and the pressure there is completely different from what Aaron Ramsey faces at Oxford . Managing a full season is about more than just one match; it's about squad depth, managing injuries, and keeping players happy across multiple competitions. It's a long road, and the challenge is to stay focused, navigate the inevitable ups and downs, and maintain that momentum despite the different levels of expectation between the two clubs.

Does he come in one morning and all of a sudden he finds he's got three or four injuries which he never knew about, or people are sick? He's going to have to go through all that, and there's so much to imagine, but not just what happens on the field. There's so many issues that he has to deal with and to navigate, but that was one hell of a result for him.

The EFL

How Big an Asset Is Danny Cowley to Colchester United?

Danny 's track record is solid, and I know Colchester United well; it's a great club with excellent facilities and a proper stadium. He knows the league inside out, which is a major advantage. Ultimately, his success will depend on the club's ambitions, whether they're aiming for the top six or simply looking to establish themselves as a stable side. Regardless of their long-term structure, the most important thing for Danny right now is to maintain the positive feeling around the club.

Are You Happy to See York City Back in the EFL?

It's great, really great, to see York City back. I saw their first game against Bristol Rovers , and they've done fabulously well. The crowd and the little stadium make it a great thing for York City to be back in the league. They were a big name when I was growing up. Sometimes a club drops into non-league football, and nobody hears from them for years, and then all of a sudden they come back up. It's fantastic to see them back in it, and I think it'll be a big season for them. The main goal for them is to stay in the division, and if they manage to do that, it will be a real success for the club.

European Football

Can Harry Kane Steer Bayern to the Champions League?

When I look at the Champions League teams now, I think there are a number of teams that can win it. Bayern Munich are always going to be up there, especially with Harry Kane . I still think you'll get all the usual suspects that qualify: the Bayerns , the Dortmunds , Barcelona , City , Real Madrid , and Arsenal . You may get one or two that might break into it that nobody expects, but the big clubs are always going to be around it. Whether Bayern can win it, I don't know. PSG look fabulous, but if they go and do three in a row, that's just phenomenal. Luis Enrique has done a great job.

What Are Your Hopes For Dortmund in Europe?

Dortmund can beat anyone on their day, without a doubt. Especially at home, there are not many teams that go to Dortmund and win in Champions League football. It's so difficult because of the atmosphere the crowd generates and the way the team plays. Niko Kovac has done a fabulous job since coming in. I'm actually going over to Dortmund to watch them against Inter Milan in a few games' time. I hope by then the guys have qualified or are through. The expectancy level is for them to go as far as they can because of the demand and support. For the atmosphere and the experience of going to a game, Dortmund is truly special.

Is Harry Kane the Front-Runner For the Ballon d'Or?

If you look at Harry Kane 's goalscoring record, it's been phenomenal. What I really like about Harry Kane , and I don't know him personally, is that he seems really humble. That's a great trait in any footballer. It doesn't matter how many goals he scores; he comes out and says all the right things and conducts himself really well. Would he be a worthy winner? Yeah, he'd be a worthy winner. But it's so rare to win the Ballon d'Or without winning a World Cup or a Champions League . That's the reality of it. When you look at Rodri and players like that who are World Cup or Champions League winners, it's going to be tough. But quite rightly, he's in the conversation for it.

Would Serhou Guirassy Be an Upgrade on Gyokeres at Arsenal?

I first saw Serhou Guirassy at Stuttgart , and he was a machine there. Dortmund then got him, and the big lad scores for fun; he does. Thankfully, he stayed at Dortmund . The Bundesliga and the Premier League are similar for crowds and excitement and goals-per-game ratio, and he thrives on that. Whether he would make the move to the Premier League , again, that's between clubs who want to do it. Thankfully, he's still at Dortmund because he's a massive asset for the club, and he started the season really well for Dortmund, so hopefully he can keep it going and take Dortmund to a title.

Has Troy Parrott Found the Perfect Home at Real Betis?

I had Troy Parrott as a kid; I took him on loan from Tottenham . He's a great personality, a really good guy, and was a great kid at that time, really young. I think it's 100% the right move for him to go to Spain . Young players can get lost in the Premier League , and I really believe that. There are so many financial factors that can take over. He's made the right choice by going to play abroad, and he's certainly done the right thing by moving to Spain .

If he can use this experience as a major asset, then if he ever comes back to the Premier League or England , he'll have all that experience behind him: Dutch football, Spanish football. Not many players can say that. I think that experience will be a huge asset for him.

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