Frank Lampard praised for one key factor that ‘not a lot of people’ see, Coventry City have very high ‘standards’

After a promising end to last season under Frank Lampard, expectations are understandably high for the Sky Blues heading into the new campaign. 

Lampard’s arrival sparked a significant turnaround, and fans will be hoping for a sustained push for promotion this term, with some even tipping them as outside contenders for automatic promotion.

However, managing these heightened expectations will be a key challenge for the former Chelsea midfielder, who is now embarking on his first full season at the helm.

Frank Lampard’s mentality for 2025/26 has been no secret, as Coventry City prepare for what promises to be an exciting season. 

The former Chelsea player is aiming to end 24 years of Coventry City pain, and assistant manager Joe Edwards has offered a fascinating insight into how he and Lampard could do this. 

Speaking to the club’s official YouTube channel, Edwards discussed the relentless drive and unwavering ambition that have defined Lampard’s career, both as a player and now as a manager.

Frank Lampard’s ‘drive’ made Joe Edwards want to join him

“The minute Frank retired, he made it clear coaching was something he wanted to get into; it was always something I wanted to be part of,” Edwards explained.

“Knowing Frank as a guy and watching the way he went about his work as a player, and how he got to those levels, which not a lot of people got to see.

“The drive and relentless nature he had to keep improving. The minute he told a few people he was going to go into coaching, I knew this was going to be something that he wouldn’t stop until he got to the top.

“That was his approach to being a professional footballer, and now a professional football manager, that is his approach. I knew that that is the kind of person that I’d want to learn from and would want to have those standards to meet.”

The pair’s coaching partnership began at Chelsea in 2019, where Edwards served as assistant manager under Lampard.

They then continued this collaboration at Everton and again for a brief interim period back at Chelsea, before reuniting at Coventry City.

Coventry’s resurgence under Frank Lampard and his team 

Frank Lampard’s tenure at Coventry City has marked a notable resurgence for the club.

When he arrived in November last season, the Sky Blues were in a perilous position, sitting 17th in the Championship table, just two points above the relegation zone, and facing a genuine battle against relegation.

However, Lampard masterminded a remarkable turnaround. Under his guidance, Coventry transformed into a formidable force, climbing the Championship table with impressive consistency. 

Their form saw them secure a fifth-place finish by the end of the season, defying all initial expectations and earning a spot in the Championship play-off semi-finals.

While their play-off dream ultimately ended in heartbreak against Sunderland, losing a tight contest, the transformation under Lampard was undeniable. 

This dramatic upturn in fortunes has injected a new wave of optimism and ambition into the club, setting high expectations for a sustained promotion push in the upcoming season.