Coventry City manager Frank Lampard told the BBC he could not be more proud of his team for the month of December. Their productive streak has propelled them to the top of the league. With January just around the corner, Coventry City top their nearest challengers by five points. On the other hand, they enjoy a substantial 12-point lead over the team sitting in third place. These accomplishments have had an incredibly positive impact on the morale of the academic team. As a reward, Lampard has claimed successive Sky Bet Manager of the Month awards for those performances in October and November.
In a recent statement, Lampard remarked on the success of the past month, saying, “It is good recognition for everybody involved, the players, the staff and everyone at the club. We had another good month.” His statements further highlight the group effort that has contributed to the team’s success.
Coventry City’s perfect December featured key victories over Southampton (both home & away), Swansea, Ipswich, Charlton, and Birmingham. The team would travel to Southampton on December 20, then host Swansea at home on December 26. They were a force at home as they extended the run with a new years eve win against Ipswich. First up, the new year will see them start with an away trip to Charlton on January 1, before making another away trip to Birmingham on January 4.
Even with the wind at their backs, though, Lampard recognized that the journey wouldn’t be easy. He added that it will be key to keep high fitness levels and manage the squad well as they are now into a very busy schedule. “Fitness is always a concern and managing the squad is crucial,” he stated. “Every team faces the same issues. The trick is keeping up the expectations because as soon as you let anything slide, outcomes and performance start to erode.”
As they head into January, Lampard is still intent on building a stronger squad ahead of the winter transfer window. Midfielder Jack Rudoni joins him on the unavailable list, ruled out for several weeks with an injury. With top scorer Brandon Thomas-Asante still sidelined, Coventry City is forced to be more creative with their squad numbers than ever. Lampard noted, “We will keep pushing until January and if we can strengthen then, that will help us move forward.”
Reflecting on his team’s journey thus far, Lampard remarked, “Stringing wins together, positive performances and positive results week after week is difficult. We had a strong period where we did that.” His genuine gratitude for his players’ hard work is a reflection of his desire to create a positive culture on the team.
The next set of fixtures look tough, but there are opportunities there for Coventry City. Strong challengers like Birmingham and Charlton will push the team’s mettle and squad variety to the limit. Lampard commented on the competitive nature of their rivals: “They are a very strong side with a high level of squad quality.”
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