Lampard says Coventry can now focus on Premier League challenge

Frank Lampard says he is relieved Coventry City’s transfer business is complete and believes the club can now concentrate fully on the demands of Premier League football.

Coventry made 11 signings during the summer window after securing promotion to the top flight, with Lampard acknowledging the considerable amount of work required to build a squad capable of competing at a higher level.

“I’m happy with the players that we brought in,” Lampard said. “We had a lot of work to do in the summer. I think it’s quite normal for teams that get promoted and we’ve done the work.

“So yeah, it’s nice from my point of view now that the window’s finished and we can focus on the squad.”

The Coventry manager also confirmed that the club were not left disappointed by any deals that failed to materialise before the deadline.

Asked whether there were still positions he would have liked to strengthen, Lampard replied: “No, we’re where we are.”

Coventry’s preparations for life in the Premier League have taken place against a backdrop of unprecedented spending across the division, with clubs reportedly investing about £3.5bn during the summer transfer window.

Their opponents on Saturday, Manchester City, have been among the biggest spenders. The champions also reportedly paid £125m to sign Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea.

Lampard accepts the financial disparity between clubs makes Coventry’s task particularly demanding, but insists his players must concentrate on what they can control.

“It was a huge amount. It’s the Premier League, right, and it is what it is,” he said.

“It shows you the difficulty because teams are obviously strengthening their squads window after window after window.

“This is our first window into the Premier League so it shows you the size of the task, but we just focus on us now and this is the reality of where the Premier League’s got to.”

Coventry enjoyed an outstanding promotion-winning campaign last season, but Lampard wants his players to recognise that those achievements cannot be relied upon as they adjust to the intensity of the top flight.

He says the team must be prepared for a different type of season and develop the mentality needed to respond to setbacks.

“I think we all know that it will not look like last season, and the quicker we realise that the better,” Lampard said.

“Last season was an incredible season for us because we won a lot and everything becomes easier in that moment.

“So it’s important that we understand the rigours of the Premier League, how it may feel different and that mindset has to be clear on that to be able to get up after a difficult result like Hull in whatever way or shape it may come.

“We train well through the week, prepare for the next one.”

With recruitment now concluded, Lampard’s immediate focus is on the pitch and the difficult assignment awaiting Coventry at Manchester City on Saturday.

The scale of that challenge is underlined by the financial strength of their opponents, but Lampard believes the club must approach the fixture with a clear understanding of its new surroundings.

Coventry’s promotion has brought an end to their time outside the top flight, but the manager knows the step up will demand rapid adaptation from both his squad and the club as a whole.

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