Manager Frank Lampard wants his players to stand up and be counted as they head to Old Trafford tonight to face Manchester United in the third round of the Carabao Cup.
Lampard enjoyed a successful period under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, winning a number of league and cup competitions, including victories against the Red Devils at Old Trafford.
The Rams head into the game as heavy underdogs but Lampard believes his side have nothing to fear against Mourinho’s Premier League outfit.
“It should be a good feeling and it’s a good challenge for us,” he said in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game. “We are an underdog for a reason. They have a talented squad which has been amassed, not just since Jose has been at the club, but we can go back a bit further than that and they have some world class players.
“We will approach it in the details we do for every game but in terms of the mindset, that’s the interesting and most important thing for this one. We have to turn up and not be scared of the underdog tag.
“We need to prove something through the underdog tag to show we can compete. Whether we win the game or not, I want us to go there and lay a marker to show we can compete and then we will come back to the Championship and try and show it consistently, week in, week out, that we have a level.
“We reached a level against Brentford and I think there is more to come. The players should see it as a great test to go and play at Old Trafford to try and show bits of what we can do.”
Preparations for this game have not been too dissimilar to how Lampard prepares his side for a Championship clash, however, he does know there is an edge to this fixture.
“We have already watched Manchester United, we will give the players the information but the biggest thing for me is, the detail will be important, but the most important thing will be the mentality,” explained the manager.
“We have to respect them and the stadium but we can’t have a respect to the point where we are going to turn up and wait for them to do something special. We have to go and perform so I want the players to get themselves into a position where they are raring to go.
“They have to make the most of an opportunity with cameras and eyes on against some of the top Premier League players and show what they can do.”
Derby have a good blend of youth and experience in their squad. A number of Rams’ young players have yet to play at the Theatre of Dreams and the manager does not want them to get overawed by the occasion.
“It’s a great opportunity for them,” Lampard said, talking about his talented youngsters. “I feel with the mentality of our youngsters that they want to be top players. They want to work hard and it is a great test.
“It will be a nervous moment being in the tunnel but at the same time the better players stand up to that moment. They enjoy it, suck it in and give it their best and try and produce so if there are any words that I can give to the lads to say don’t let this game pass you by.
“Don’t come away thinking I wish I could have done more at Old Trafford. That moment in the tunnel must be saying that you are going to bring everything today.”
