Frank Lampard has revealed how working under José Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti during his playing career has influenced his approach to management. The Coventry City boss discussed his managerial philosophy in an interview with musician Tom Grennan for BBC Sport.
The interview will feature on The Football Interview on BBC One at 12:45 every Saturday during the Premier League season. It will also be available on BBC iPlayer, BBC Football YouTube, and the BBC Sport website and app.
In the second episode of the new season, Lampard reflects on his experiences with some of football’s most respected managers and explains how those lessons continue to shape his work at Coventry City.
Frank Lampard’s Management Style
Lampard worked with several high-profile managers during his playing career, including Mourinho, Ancelotti, Guus Hiddink, Rafael Benitez and his uncle Harry Redknapp.
However, he says Mourinho and Ancelotti have had the biggest influence on his management style.
Lampard described the two former Chelsea managers as very different personalities. Mourinho was demanding and intense, while Ancelotti created a calmer and more trusting environment.
According to Lampard, Mourinho was excellent at communicating confidence to his players. At the same time, players knew they would face strong criticism if they failed to meet his standards.
Ancelotti, meanwhile, offered a more relaxed approach. Lampard believes both styles have valuable qualities, and he tries to find a balance between them.
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“Jose and Carlo are like both sides of the coin,” Lampard explained.
The Coventry manager admitted that he sometimes becomes more demanding, like Mourinho, while at other times he takes a calmer approach inspired by Ancelotti.
Lampard Learns to Understand His Players
One of the biggest lessons Lampard has learned during his eight years as a manager is that footballers are human beings first.
Earlier in his managerial career, he felt that young managers often tried too hard to prove their authority. That could mean immediately criticizing players after a poor performance or reacting strongly when someone arrived late for training.
However, Lampard now believes managers need to understand the circumstances behind a player’s actions.
For example, a player arriving late does not necessarily mean he lacks discipline. There could be a personal reason that the manager does not know about.
At the same time, Lampard believes there are moments when a stronger approach is necessary. If players are not doing their jobs on the pitch, he says a manager sometimes needs to show the more demanding side of Mourinho.
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Coventry City’s Promotion Was a Major Achievement
Lampard also reflected on Coventry City’s promotion to the Premier League last season.
The Sky Blues won the Championship with 95 points after Lampard took charge in November 2024. Coventry finished 11 points ahead of second-placed Ipswich Town and returned to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years.
For Lampard, the achievement ranks alongside some of the biggest moments of his career.
As a player, he won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, the Europa League and the Champions League with Chelsea. He considers the 2012 Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich in Munich the greatest footballing night of his playing career.
Nevertheless, Coventry’s promotion holds a special place in his career as a manager.
Lampard said the emotional reaction after securing promotion at Blackburn Rovers was unlike anything he had experienced as a coach. The strong bond within the Coventry dressing room also made the achievement particularly meaningful.
Lampard Warns Coventry About Premier League Challenge
Coventry now face a completely different challenge in the Premier League.
Lampard believes his team must retain the positive qualities that helped them dominate the Championship. However, he also accepts that they cannot approach every Premier League match in exactly the same way.
Defensive organization will be especially important as Coventry face stronger opposition throughout the season.
Despite the difficult challenge ahead, Lampard does not want his players to be afraid.
Instead, he wants Coventry to show courage and confidence.
The manager understands that avoiding relegation would represent a successful campaign. However, he wants his players to embrace their opportunity rather than become overwhelmed by the pressure.
Coventry opened their Premier League campaign with a 3-0 defeat against champions Arsenal. Their next challenge will come at home against fellow promoted side Hull City.
Frank Lampard Wants Coventry to Be Brave
Lampard also explained that he does not want proving his critics wrong to become his main motivation.
His managerial career has included difficult periods at Chelsea and Everton, following his earlier work at Derby County. However, the Coventry promotion has given him another opportunity to establish himself at the highest level.
Rather than focusing on outside criticism, Lampard wants to concentrate on making sensible decisions and helping his players develop.
For now, his message to Coventry is simple: be brave, trust the work that earned promotion, and embrace the Premier League challenge.
If Lampard can successfully combine Mourinho’s intensity with Ancelotti’s calm leadership, Coventry could have a manager capable of guiding the club through one of the biggest challenges in its recent history.
[…] Frank Lampard Reveals How Mourinho and Ancelotti Shaped His Management Style […]