FRANK Lampard admits last term’s play-off semi-final heartbreak was meant to be after Coventry City bounced back to win the Championship title this season.
Coventry suffered a cruel play-off semi-final defeat against Sunderland at the end of the 2024/25 campaign following a remarkable upturn in form under Lampard.
And the Sky Blues recovered from the defeat in style to lift the Championship title this season in Lampard’s first full season in charge.
In a video posted on the club’s YouTube channel, Lampard and Coventry chairman Doug King discussed various topics since the former’s arrival as Sky Blues head coach.
And Lampard admits he moved on quickly from the pain of the play-off defeat to Sunderland and feels the loss spurred the club to greater heights this season.
Lampard said: “In the run-in we started to play like I wanted us to play.
“Looking back, the Luton and Plymouth results happen. Joel [Latibeaudiere] spoke up really positively after the Plymouth defeat which gave me a good feeling.
“Looking back now, the semi-final which we lost was meant to be. Where we were at as a group, people said to me, maybe it’s not the worst thing.
“It’s not easy to hear when you’re mourning a defeat. We played really well in the games. I felt like the players did in the dressing room afterwards.
“I hate losing at the best of times but I had a real sense of pride about how the players took on the second leg.
“We were the team that grabbed the game. When I got over the pain of it, it was quite quick in the end.”
King’s early reign as Sky Blues owner took in a play-off final defeat against Luton Town and FA Cup semi-final defeat against Manchester United.
The Sky Blues lost on penalties in both matches as City fell just short of a dream return to the Premier League in the 2022/23 campaign.
Further play-off pain followed last season against Sunderland as Coventry lost the tie with virtually the final touch of the game.
Sunderland went on to achieve promotion to the Premier League and have since qualified for the UEFA Europa League.
However, King believes the defeat allowed Coventry to have a reset and reassess their aims heading into the 2025/26 season.
King added: “The Sunderland one was just a bit harder than the Luton play-off final and Manchester United semi-final.
“I knew how well we were playing. We’d given one away at home but played really well away under very difficult circumstances.
“It was a very hostile environment and then the volcano of Sunderland fans, the stand was shaking.
“I said okay we go again. Sunderland went on to have their moment and we had our reset moment.”
