Frank Lampard has called on his team to shift focus from their recent Premier League promotion to the immediate challenge of securing their place in the top flight. Lampard guided the Sky Blues back to the Premier League in April, ending a 25-year absence from the division. However, after seven league games this season, the club find themselves just one point above the relegation zone.

With upcoming matches against Fulham and Sunderland—both clubs currently positioned in the bottom three—Lampard acknowledged the difficulty of the fixtures ahead. “I don’t want to keep talking about that [promotion],” he said. “Now we have to get over that. We can’t be too soft. I can’t keep applauding the players now, believing that they deserve to be here. We have to now act upon it.”

Lampard emphasized the need for a pragmatic approach as the club battles to maintain their Premier League status. “They’re just really difficult games. I mean, that is a fact,” he added, highlighting the challenge posed by their immediate opponents.

The manager’s remarks underscore a shift in mindset at the club, moving from the celebration of promotion to the urgent task of accumulating points to avoid relegation. The upcoming fixtures will be critical in determining whether the Sky Blues can establish themselves in the top tier following their long-awaited return.