Frank Lampard joins Coventry against a backdrop of anger that the Sky Blues dispensed with the services of former boss Robins – and news of his arrival has been met with a largely lukewarm response
Frank Lampard bounced back into management at Coventry City with a spring in his step – and a fierce defence of his record.
The former England international ended an 18-month absence from the frontline by agreeing to become Mark Robins’s successor. He does so against a backdrop of anger that the Sky Blues dispensed with the services of former boss Robins – and news of his arrival has been met with a largely lukewarm response.
But he looked re-energised and re-focused and has five years’ experience behind him but the underlying message to Coventry supporters was: ‘Give me a chance.”
He said: “I don’t want to sit here and say I want to show the world. I’m driven. I like to prove people wrong. I did it as a player.
“As a manager you know you’re going to have to prove people wrong. It doesn’t matter if it’s me, or Pep Guardiola. You have to be big enough to take it. Everyone can have an opinion. I wouldn’t expect any decision to be universal. I would point to the positive things in my career. You live in the spotlight as a manager.
“If you are not brave enough to do that, then don’t worry, sit at home and be an ex-player who wants to work in the media, or sit at home or play golf. But there’s enjoyment in it – of getting up and putting yourself out there and working with players, trying to win a game, learning about players, about people, working with your owners.
“It’s a great challenge for me. It’s easy to say: ‘Why don’t you sit at home?’ I don’t want to. I want to work. I’ve had a nice time out of the game. All I’d say is: ‘Give me a chance.’
“I want to get back because this is what I love doing. And I want Coventry City fans to be happy with the club I produce.”
However, Lampard did highlight the successes on his CV that may have been overlooked as the furious fog slowly lifted after Robins’ sudden exit. He added: “As I look back on my career, at Derby I reached the play-off final, at Chelsea, we managed to get into the Champions League. At Everton, we stayed up.
“I’ve had good moments. And those moments have led me to come here. Every one of those situations is about context. At Derby we could dominate with the ball and have a lion’s share of possession because of the players I had.
“At Chelsea, I had academy players who needed to be played because of a transfer ban, so they were added to some good players who were already there. The challenge of Everton was in the context of a relegation battle. Then, at Chelsea it was a baby-sitting job. I was holding the baby, and they were a club in transition.”
Sky Blues’ chief Doug King said: ““Frank was the outstanding candidate. We had great applications and a high-calibre shortlist. We got on great. He’s putting himself back into the arena, which is always a brave thing to do. We’re happy to have him with us.”
Lampard spoke warmly about Robins, who led the club from the depths of League Two to the brink of the Premier League before he was shown the door.
He said: “I’ve got complete respect for the job Mark did here. You can only give credit because of the rigours of the job and to be here such a long time and to be here with the success he had deserves that.
“I’m coming here on the back of someone who has laid solid foundations. I only want to come here, work hard and give my best for the club and for every Coventry City fan.”
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