Pep Guardiola made his Frank Lampard feelings clear as he’s tipped to become Rangers boss
Pep Guardiola made his Frank Lampard feelings clear as he’s tipped to become Rangers boss
Pep Guardiola will not be surprised by the ascent of Coventry City manager Frank Lampard, who Ally McCoist thinks would make a perfect Rangers boss.
Lampard, 46, is enjoying an incredible run of form having dragged Coventry from 17th to fifth in the Championship. The Sky Blues recorded their ninth victory in 10 matches and their fifth triumph on the bounce by overcoming Stoke City, who are managed by Lampard’s predecessor Mark Robins, 3-2 on Saturday.
While Barry Ferguson was appointed as interim manager, a full-replacement for the sacked Philippe Clement is yet to be decided. Gers legend McCoist thinks the Coventry boss would be the ideal replacement. It’s likely Guardiola would agree with the TNT Sports and talkSPORT pundit, as he tipped Lampard to become one of the best managers of his generation.
When Lampard was still manager of Chelsea, Guardiola said: “Frank Lampard was an extraordinary football player, and he will be an extraordinary manager. He did a really good season and I am delighted to watch his team.
“They are the elite of European football. When you start as a manager, you have a passion and no fears. You take decisions without compromise, which he has done by giving opportunities to the young, talented players Chelsea have because his academy in the last five or 10 years has done really well.”
After a nightmare second spell at Chelsea, which saw him only record one victory in 11 matches, Lampard’s reputation as a manager was in the gutter. There was little confidence and expectation in him when he took over from Robins, whose sacking was greeted with widespread sadness and anger within the Coventry fanbase.
Now the Sky Blues supporters are singing his name and they’re side are on track to secure a place in the play-offs. While Lampard has been linked with a move to Ibrox, ex-Gers manager Steven Gerrard, who departed Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq at the end of January, has also been touted with an emotional return.
“I’ve said this for a while and I think he could’ve been like Steven Gerrard in the way that they come to the club with the hunger to succeed, as I always felt that he was overly criticised for some of the results at his previous jobs, he looks to have found his feet.”
He also added: “As far as other candidates go, Steven Gerrard coming back wouldn’t disappoint me. He knows the club well and has a point to prove.
“There’s talk of Rafa Benitez and Derek McInnes – Derek knows the club well and I’d be happy with him, the ship may have sailed for him though. I can guarantee you that with the new owners coming in, the Rangers job will be heavily sought after and hopefully they can get the right man in to take them forward.”
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