At 22:00 tomorrow night Beijing time (CEST), Coventry will face Manchester City in the third round of the FA Cup. In the first half of the pre-match press conference, Lampard discussed his expectations for the match against Manchester City and shared his views on Maresca. Related link: [Lampard: I never expected transfer fees to skyrocket like this; I have many close friends at Manchester City]

You will face Manchester City this weekend, returning to the Etihad Stadium. Was the last time you returned there as a coach in 2023 when you were still managing Chelsea? How much are you looking forward to returning? Have you shared your past experiences with your players this week?

Many of my experiences are actually quite different from the current situation. The Premier League and the Championship are completely different levels, and every top opponent is brimming with talent. So my past coaching experience may not directly address the challenges we will face tomorrow.

As for Manchester City, I have great affection for the club. I had a very enjoyable year there as a player, and the club was in an upward trajectory at that time. A year or two after I left, Guardiola took over, and everyone knows what happened since.

They have built their current success step by step, and everyone has witnessed their journey. I'm very happy to return to this place with such fond memories, but the match will be a tough test for us and a rare opportunity to test ourselves away from home.

After overcoming the nerves, your next opponent is Manchester City. How do you guide your players to strike a balance between playing freely and attacking bravely while respecting Manchester City's threat and defending well?

We must face reality: play freely while staying focused. Premier League matches are often decided by flashes of individual brilliance, and Manchester City has many players capable of that. There's nothing wrong with approaching the game as the underdog.

We'll be underdogs in many matches this season, but we mustn't be afraid. We need to approach it with a challenger's mentality, actively attack with our own style of play, and overcome our inner doubts. The previous match against Arsenal gave us valuable experience. That game is done; now we face the next challenge and treat it as a learning opportunity.

How much would a positive result against Manchester City help boost team morale and set the tone for the new season?

Victory certainly brings confidence, but we also need to think long-term. All we need to do now is prepare properly and perform at our best. There's a long season ahead after Manchester City, and although this victory would be significant, the difficulty of the match itself is clear.

Let's discuss Maresca. He used to manage Chelsea. How do you evaluate his coaching career? What challenges does he face taking over Manchester City after Guardiola's outstanding achievements?

His coaching record is excellent. I don't know him personally and have never met him, but I have followed his coaching journey closely, especially during his time at Chelsea.

As a coach, he has received nothing but positive reviews. Taking over from a football legend like Guardiola is an incredibly challenging job, but Manchester City has a strong squad and a very solid foundation laid by the club, so he can absolutely continue to lead the team to great results.

Let's talk about physical intensity. Premier League players are now taller and stronger, and the physical demands are almost comparable to rugby. Based on your experience as a player and coach, has the intensity of physical confrontation reached an all-time high?

The Premier League has been constantly evolving, and I don't think this trend will reverse. To establish yourself in the Premier League now, players' fitness, work rate, and strength in physical battles must meet the required standards. The importance of set pieces is becoming increasingly significant, and the tactical level of all teams is rising.

Matches are often decided by explosiveness, pace, and power. Against teams that deliberately compress space and use tight marking, forwards must have the physical condition to break free and create opportunities independently. You won't be handed chances on a plate. Physical attributes and technical ability are equally important. If you look at how clubs are recruiting, you can see that physical confrontation has become a major focus in transfer scouting.

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