Fair play to Frank. He knows what the players need to do to get the crowd up for it.
Frank Lampard gave his seal of approval to Coventry City’s now firmly established pre-match anthem that helped the new head coach feel right at home at the CBS Arena.
The 46-year-old was given a warm welcome by over 25,000 home fans for his first match in charge of the
Sky Blues, thoroughly enjoying the atmosphere whipped up by them singing along to ‘We’ll Live And Die In These Towns’ by local band, The Enemy just before kick-off.
“I was really pleased and really thankful for that from the fans,” said Lampard, whose only regret was that his team couldn’t give them a win, having to settle for an opening day 2-2 draw.
“I understand the legacy of the last manager and I am not here to fight that. I am here to say, fantastic, and try to do my job. So thanks very much to the fans before the game which was very rousing, the way they sing before the kick-off was amazing. I loved it, was a great experience, that.
“During the game and afterwards for the players and myself, it was not easy. We want more than draw but they were supportive and that relationship is all about us now. It’s about what momentum we can build and how we can make this place for home games, and that’s why I am disappointed with the bits where I felt we were short, winning the second ball which feels like an old school comment but it reacts the crowd; it engages them, you know, and if we’re playing for a club and a city and this kind of fan base, the first thing they relate to is that kind of action and fight. It’s not that the players are short of it in intentions, it’s just more like ‘are we going to make sure that’s what we become as a football team.’
“But yeah, the fans were great, so thanks for that.”
Asked if he deliberately had a low key response to the stadium announcer’s build-up and introduction to the fans – Lampard just waving in acknowledgment before taking to his seat in the dugout, he said: “Yeah, I’m a low key person, do you know what I mean? I’m here as a head coach, I’m not here as a celebrity.
“I have coached other teams in the Championship and Champions League and things but my enjoyment comes out of trying to make this team better. And I actually shy away from those moments even though people might not think that. I appreciated the reception but I didn’t want to make it about me. It’s not my moment, it was the start of 90 minutes.”
After the final whistle, however, he went round all corners of ground applauding the supporters.
“Yes, because I appreciate the fans and I am here to work hard and do well for the club,” he said. “I have to say that in all my clubs I have worked at I have had good a relationship with the fans and hopefully they can see that I work, and I respect that they come and watch and support us. I’ll be honest and if I felt they (the players) were a bit short today I will say it, and if I feel we are going in the right direction I’ll say it. But just very thankful because I understand the situation and my job is just to work hard and make them enjoy watching their team.”
