(Credit: Getty Images / Imago)

Ben Palmer

Mon 3 March 2025 14:19, UK

Man City’s Pep Guardiola and Brentford’s Thomas Frank have had an influence on the current run of form at Coventry, Frank Lampard has revealed.

The former Derby and Everton manager took over in late November, with the Sky Blues hovering above the relegation zone in 17th, just three points above Hull City in 22nd.

Lampard was backed by Chelsea fans to do well, but there were still questions as to whether the former England international was the right man for the job.

Chelsea were expected to loan a number of young players to Coventry, having done something similar when Lampard was in charge of Derby in his last stint in the Championship.

However, the former West Ham man has instead forged his own path, instead of relying on a helping hand from the club he made his name at.

Visits to Pep Guardiola and Thomas Frank key to Frank Lampard success

Prior to taking over at the Championship side, Lampard says he visited Frank at Brentford, in order to mix ideas with the Danish manager.

A visit to Man City, in order to interview Rodri, also gave the former England international a chance to sit down and talk with Pep Guardiola.

The Spanish manager’s engagement on the training ground with the players, coupled with his infectious energy, left Lampard amazed, he told The Athletic.

“I had a few [dinners with other managers], which are a really great opportunity just to mix ideas and chat. I went to see Thomas Frank at Brentford. He was so open and so interesting.

“About a month before this job came up, I went up to Manchester City to do an interview with Rodri and I got the opportunity to sit down for 45 minutes with Pep , which was amazing. Before I even started coaching, I had a couple of days at City and I was just amazed by his engagement on the training ground with the players. That’s exactly what I want to be, something like that. What’s my version of being in there next to a player, going through everything?”

The former Chelsea man came away wanted to emulate Guardiola’s coaching style on the training ground, and was was impressed by the former Barcelona man’s energy and love for the game.

This has been reflected in Lampard’s interactions with Coventry fans, and after winning an eighth league game out of nine, the former Chelsea manager performed a Jurgen Klopp-style fist-pump to travelling fans.

The winning run the Sky Blues find themselves on is their best in 55 years, and despite a slow start under Lampard, Coventry have shot up the table and sit fifth, on course for a play-off run.

During his time at Derby, the 46-year-old lost to Aston Villa in a heart-breaking play-off final, and will be hoping to avoid another experience like that one during his time in the Midlands.

Pep Guardiola in need of some winning advice of his own at Man City

Football Insider Verdict

Ironically, Guardiola may look to turn to Lampard for some advice on winning football matches, as his side limp towards the finish of a disastrous season.

Man City signed Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico Gonzalez and Vitor Reis in January, in an attempt to revitalise a squad that had failed to replicate the success of last year, when they became Premier League champions for the fourth year running.

However, after falling out of the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid, and being left in the dust by Liverpool, the Citizens’ only hope for silverware this season comes in the form of the FA Cup.

There also remains the looming presence of Man City’s 115 charges brought against them by the FA, however the club are expected to make more signings in the summer, in spite of any potential sanctions brought against them.

Jamie Gittens has been linked with a move to Man City, as they look to rival Liverpool for the young Dortmund winger.