Frank Lampard has disclosed that playing away at Arsenal felt daunting like a first game back in the top flight, whereas his Coventry City side grew into their narrow defeat against Manchester City with a clear identity and competitive threat.
Opening the season away at the Emirates Stadium against the champions made it feel like Coventry’s “first game for 25 years in the Premier League”.
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In a chat with the club’s website, Lampard admitted his players were more daunted and slightly timid, feeling the extreme physical and tactical level of the Gunners right from the touchline in a 3-0 loss.
He noted that unlike the opening-day shock against Arsenal, the performance against City felt like a proper, organized Premier League team coming with a clear idea rather than being paralyzed by the occasion.
“We’re not playing Manchester City every week,” Lampard said.
“The Premier League is a high, high level and we’ll play different versions of quality against us.
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“What’s more important to the players today is they take confidence out of the performance and we’re disappointed to lose, but in reflection there will be a lot of good taken out of it if we can use it in our mentality.
“Going to Arsenal two weeks ago felt very different, it felt like our first game for 25 years in the Premier League.
“Today felt like a competitive Premier League team coming with a clear idea and a threat, so we must take that forward.”
