Lampard 'somewhere in the middle' of Mourinho and Ancelotti

Frank Lampard, manager of Championship side Coventry City, has revealed the managerial influences that shaped his coaching philosophy as he prepares for his first Premier League season in charge. Speaking in the latest episode of BBC Sport’s *The Football Interview*, the former Chelsea and England midfielder discussed the contrasting approaches of Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti, two of his former managers, and how he blends their styles in his own leadership.

Eight years into his managerial career, Lampard, 48, described Mourinho and Ancelotti as “both sides of the coin” in terms of their management approaches. “Jose was very on you, he transmitted his self-confidence, but if you stepped out of line or did something wrong, you’d feel the strength of him,” he said. “Whereas Carlo was chilled and calm. When you look back, you go, ‘that’s a nice environment to work in.’ It felt like he trusted you.” Lampard, who played under both managers at Chelsea and won the Premier League and FA Cup with them, said he tries to incorporate elements of both styles. “I’m probably somewhere in the middle,” he explained. “Sometimes I go towards being Jose, sometimes I go and be a bit more Carlo.”

Lampard emphasized the importance of balancing intensity with empathy, particularly when dealing with young players. He acknowledged that early in his managerial career, he may have been quicker to criticize poor performances or late arrivals, but now takes a more nuanced approach. “The more I’ve done this job, I realise that they’re all humans,” he said. “Sometimes a lad comes in late, you don’t know the back story. And so trying to jump on him and being this hard man manager, you’ve got to be more Carlo.”

The Coventry boss also reflected on his managerial journey, which has included mixed results in the Premier League with Chelsea and Everton. Despite setbacks, Lampard said he does not let external criticism drive him. “You’ve got to be careful trying to prove every doubter wrong, because it’s not possible,” he told musician Tom Grennan, a Coventry fan. He described last season’s Championship title win with Coventry, achieved with 95 points, as being on par with some of his greatest achievements as a player, including winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012. “When you get promoted, it’s hard to balance against winning the Champions League with Chelsea,” he said. “But when you work with a group of lads that are so great as a dressing room, I’ve never experienced that as a coach.”

As Coventry embark on their Premier League campaign, Lampard is focused on adapting to the challenges of top-flight football. He acknowledged that the defensive demands will differ from those in the Championship, where Coventry dominated many games. “We’d be fools to think that we’d just go and play like we did in the Championship every week,” he said. Lampard’s immediate ambition for the season is to encourage his players to embrace bravery and self-belief. “Let’s stick our chests out and let’s be brave about it,” he urged. “These boys have earned where they’ve got to, so go in with that attitude.”

Coventry’s season opener ended in a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal, but Lampard’s side will look to bounce back when they host newly promoted Hull City on Saturday.

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