Battle to make the bench as Coventry City boss Frank Lampard relishes ‘hardest’ part of management

Coventry City news from CoventryLive as Frank Lampard looks forward to having fierce competition in his squad for the first time since taking charge of the Sky Blues

The return of important players has hopefully arrived at the perfect time for Coventry City, who have managed to find form and momentum despite their absence.

Ben Sheaf’s return for a few minutes at the end of the game against Preston North End was welcome, and joint top scorer Haji Wright could return to the matchday mix for the first time in almost three months this weekend when the Sky Blues visit Oxford United.
Just like Ephron Mason-Clark’s comeback in recent weeks, it will take a few games for them to regain their footing, with both most likely being eased back into the lineup. However, if all goes well, Frank Lampard will have a completely fit and firing team to call on for the last drive for a play-off spot.

“Yes, the squad is strong with a good competitive edge now because we got through that period without big players like Ben, Ephron, and Haji,” stated the head coach, who is aware that the return of those players means others must step up or miss out.
“But now they are returning, and it is critical that the group realizes this. A competitive squad is beneficial, as it puts members under pressure to improve. And we’ll feel that in the team now, and it’s important that we all handle it well.

“Good competition is a good thing, so we’ll have a really lovely working week now, aiming for Oxford. “There will be some work to get those players fitter and stronger.”

Raphael Borges Rodrigues was left off the teamsheet over the weekend, and the return of Wright and injured Victor Torp, both of whom could be available this weekend, means that players will be fighting for a spot on the bench, much alone the starting lineup.
“Yeah, for sure, and I am used to that,” added Lampard, who was excited about the prospect.

“I’ve been managing for a few years now, and one of the most difficult aspects of being a manager is informing players they aren’t in the squad or are on the bench, because everyone wants to start. But the reality is that you can’t be successful without that competition, and to be honest, in certain games since I’ve been here, the bench hasn’t been as strong as the opposing bench, possibly due to injuries.

“And if we want to succeed, we want to make a difference in games and have healthy competition, which sadly implies that some players will not get the opportunity. But, as I have stated, they must remain optimistic because we need everyone to stick together.