Coventry manager Lampard gave an exclusive interview to Sky Sports. In a conversation with Jamie Redknapp, he shared his experience working under Mourinho, Ancelotti and Villas-Boas, while discussing his coaching philosophy, player management, and the challenges Coventry faces after being promoted to the Premier League. This is the fourth part of the interview.

Other parts of the interview

Lampard: Mourinho's methods influenced me the most; his confidence is very grounded

Lampard: I understood Villas-Boas after becoming a manager, and I regret how I reacted when he substituted me back then

Lampard: I really admire the team's fighting spirit and unity; that's the foundation for us to move forward

Looking back at your career, you've won every trophy. Domestically, there's no trophy you haven't won. Then you started your coaching journey. I often wonder, since I haven't done it myself. My father coached over a thousand matches, and your father was an assistant manager, perhaps not under as much pressure, but they worked very well together. Why did you decide to go into this profession?

I like to try to do better at everything I do. When I do something, I always get a bit obsessed with it. Once I start, I think part of it is wanting to prove people who doubt me wrong, and also to prove to myself that I can do the best I possibly can.

And in the process, you get these small feelings of achievement, like helping a player improve. I work with young players like Jack Rudoni. It's wonderful working with him. He's very willing to commit and engage with you. He wants to do everything. He wants to score, he wants to do everything well. He wants to train every day and asks you countless questions. I really enjoy these moments.

So you get these small personal satisfactions. Then, when you win a match or achieve results, I also love the life this job brings me. Many people ask me, "Why do you do this?"

At this stage, I feel this is my life.

What's the biggest leap after this promotion? Before the season started, we discussed what's needed to keep Coventry in the Premier League. How do you ensure your squad is strong enough to do that? Looking at the past decade, what have you learned from teams that have survived in the Premier League after promotion, or those that have been relegated? Which teams serve as your reference points?

I really admire what teams like Brentford, Sunderland and Brighton are doing. I also very much enjoy watching their matches. Because you can give bigger teams a lot of problems, but you really have to reach that level.

From a coaching perspective, what I find interesting is: how much can you stick to your principles as a manager of a newly promoted club? Because there is a real gap. If you think you can keep the same style of play after promotion, I think reality will ultimately punish you.

In other words, you have to put your ego aside.

You have to do that, and you have to find ways to win. I know that sounds clichéd, but the way to win doesn't always have to be the same.

We've seen some promoted teams try to keep their style of play. For example, last season, we controlled the ball a lot and pressed opponents deep for long periods. We'd play the ball wide, reorganize, play it wide again, then cross it, with players flooding into the box. Now, we're different, and we have to be different. My coaching methods have to be different too. I can't teach the old way, or we won't have a chance.

We've really seen some clubs play that way consistently, keep losing, and then still wonder, "Why are we bottom of the table?" Next is Newcastle United, an important match on Monday evening. Getting the first home win and receiving the fans' support, of course, is very important. That sounds a bit obvious.

They've already supported you, but you also want to really get them engaged and let them feel what the Premier League is like.

That's right. If you want to survive this league, home form is crucial, isn't it? The reason is very clear. We have a very good group of supporters.

It was a bit disappointing that after the Brighton loss, they gave us a sympathetic round of applause. That was really remarkable, because they still stood by the players. I think they also partly understand the situation we're facing. But we want to give them more. We want to really engage them in the match. When we were at our best last season, we were a team that could do a lot of things. I just mentioned that we controlled the ball a lot, but we were also excellent in transitions, could attack quickly, played with intensity and at a high tempo.

These are all things I want to see, and of course, the fans want to see them too. So if we can deliver these things, we know they'll be with us and become a very important force for us.

We hope to do that against Newcastle United, while also knowing they have many threats in their squad. I think they have good intensity, good transitions and are very quick.

Frank, is that the biggest difference in this league? When you come up from the Championship to the Premier League, even when you play well throughout the match, with most things under your control, if the opponent capitalizes on just one moment, the ball could be in your net. Is that the difference?

Honestly, I think so, Jamie. There really is that difference.

You get punished.

The opponent's ability to capitalize on chances will punish you. Brighton is a prime example. They scored three goals, and when you watch them you think, "Wow." Like Lewis Dunk's goal, you think, "Wow, there's really nothing you can do about a goal like that."

That goal would absolutely be a contender for the month's best goal.

Exactly. However, that might be a more specific example. But the way they score is characteristic of these matches. During pre-season, I showed the players many clips like that. We were still in training camp, and I told them, "This is the level you're about to face."

Many goals are like that. A team might control the ball reasonably well, say against Arsenal, try to build an attack, and within three seconds, Saka has put it in the bottom corner. That's the harsh reality we have to face. So we have to be very clear about that.

It's easy to talk about, but you have to do these things well in training and actual matches. At the same time, at the other end of the pitch, in front of the opponent's goal, we also have to take our chances better.

Jay Dasilva scored a brilliant goal for us; he's our left-back, and that goal helped us beat Nottingham Forest. But for our attacking players, I hope and want to see them perform like that, find that feeling, and believe they can do it too. That way, they'll feel they belong here, and that will help us do the things I just mentioned.

Great, Frank. I'm really looking forward to Monday's match. All the best.

And you're always the best dressed.

Thank you.

Luke told me to say that (laughs).

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