Norwich manager Paul Lambert to use his Scottish and German experiences in fight to survive

Paul Lambert ,Norwich City

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Norwich manager Paul Lambert says he will use his tough Scottish experiences and the German mentality to succeed in the Premier League.

Lambert has guided the Canaries to back-to back promotions and says his players have earned the right to play on the world’s biggest stage.

“You look at back-to-back away games at Manchester United and Liverpool in October and that just shows the level we’ve worked hard to get to,” Lambert said in an article in The Mirror.

“We have earned the right to be here – it is a great challenge and exciting times for the club and the fans.

“Whoever we were going to face in the opening game, we knew it was going to be really tough and that is the way it will be in the Premier League – really, really tough games.”

Lambert is one of seven Scottish managers currently plying their trade in the Premier League and has the distinction of having won the Champions League as a player with Borussia Dortmund. In his highly decorated playing career, he also won the Scottish Cup with St. Mirren as a 17-year-old, every Scottish domestic honour with Celtic and 40 caps for Scotland. He plans to draw on all his experiences as he strives to keep Norwich in the English top-flight next season.

“I know how difficult it is going to be, I really do. But I’m not frightened as an individual.

“I’m looking forward to playing against all those great teams, great players and, of course, the managers as well.

“I’m not frightened by anything.”

Plenty of Scottish managers have been successful in the Premier League and Lambert believes it’s their passion to succeed that sets them apart.

“I would say the Glasgow upbringing is the secret, if there is one,” said Lambert.

“It’s a tough upbringing that gives you the desire and the hunger and the will to become a winner. If you look at the Scottish managers in the Premier League they all seem to have those ingredients; they have a great inner strength and belief that they can succeed.

“I was born within a stone’s throw of Celtic Park. I’m Glasgow-born – and I think most of those other managers are as well.

“If you look at the list which includes Sir Alex Ferguson, Kenny Dalglish, David Moyes, Owen Coyle, Alex McLeish and Steve Kean it’s remarkable and you know you are going to be measured against them.

“They are all excellent managers; they understand the game but they understand people as well and I’m sure they feel some kind of kindred spirit. Being Scottish it certainly helps when you are speaking to them!”

Lambert has been busy in the transfer market already, signing James Vaughan, Steve Morison, Elliot Bennett and Ritchie De Laet, and says his strategy will be to continue to bring in players hungry for success.

“I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth; things didn’t come easy and I had to work for them.

“I know what it’s like to have to work your way up, and it isn’t easy. But that kind of start in life gives you a hunger and determination to do it – and you just hope you can transfer that hunger and desire to your players.”