Tag: Frank Lampard

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Man City handball controversy: Everton receive apology over Man City handball

Mueez Ajao

– Everton have received an apology from the Premier League’s head of referees, Mike Riley, after the failure to award an injury time penalty against Manchester City on Saturday.

– Everton were trailing the league leaders 1-0 when Rodrigo handled the ball inside the area. Match referee Paul Tierney was unsighted and the VAR, Chris Kavanagh, decided there was insufficient evidence to show the ball had hit the City midfielder on the arm.

– The decision robbed Everton of the chance to equalise from the spot and claim a vital point in their battle against relegation.

Also Read: Phil Foden delivers a huge win for Man City

– Riley, the general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), which oversees all refereeing in England, personally called Everton chairman Bill Kenwright and manager Frank Lampard to apologise and admit a mistake had been made by the VAR.

– Lampard, who replaced Rafa Benitez as Everton manager in January, was furious after the game with the defeat leaving his new club just one point above the drop zone.

– “There is no doubt, there is no probably to it,” Lampard said after the game. “The decision is incredible, incredible, and that loses us the opportunity to get what we deserved.

– “That’s a VAR call. That’s Chris Kavanagh, I spoke to the referee and they know it is a penalty, the question is that is it offside and it wasn’t.

– “That’s the reason we have VAR. It wouldn’t have needed more than five seconds to know it was a penalty. He [Kavanagh] should have either told the referee to give it or told him to go look at it.

– “We’ve lost a point because of a professional who cannot do his job right. You start searching for whys and I can’t think why. It is so incompetent to get it wrong.

– “Pep [Guardiola] will know, Everton fans will know, Man City fans will know, it was the clearest penalty you could give: arm is out — great, below the sleeve — great, I was waiting for the penalty.

– “Incompetence at best, at worst who knows? I’ll wait for the statement or apology they do when things are wrong but it will mean nothing.”

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I don’t care what Alli wears – Lampard

Mueez Ajao

– Everton manager Frank Lampard lept to the defence of new signing Dele Alli after the midfielder was criticised by former England manager Glenn Hoddle for his choice of attire at his Goodison Park welcome following a move from Tottenham Hotspur.

– Lampard said he would never handcuff the personalities of his players, adding: “I don’t care what car he drives, what clothes he wears, as long as I get a lad that comes to training every day, wants to improve every day. The modern day has moved on, it’s changed.”

– The former Chelsea and England star also added that his team need to keep their cool in their quest to avoid relegation as upcoming league games against Newcastle United and Leeds United are unlikely to seal their fate.

Also Read: OFFICIAL: Dele Ali joins Everton from Tottenham Hotspur

– Everton, who have been ever-present in the top flight for the last 68 years, appointed Lampard as Rafa Benitez’s successor last week to help them avoid the drop as they sit in 16th place after 20 games, just four points above the relegation zone.

– “We have to stay calm because there’s a long way to go. I’ve come here with 18 games left so to put everything on these two games would be the wrong attitude,” Lampard told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s clash at Newcastle.

– Everton will be without the services of defender Ben Godfrey until March after he picked up a hamstring injury during Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round win against fellow Premier League side Brentford.

– Everton take on a Newcastle side that are in a relegation scrap of their own, sitting second from bottom with 15 points from 21 games.

– “I’m under no illusions, as the manager of this huge club, I’m always going to be in the firing line,” Newcastle boss Eddie Howe told reporters on Monday.

– “Frank will have his philosophy which was evident against Brentford. They have a strong team so we’ll have to be at our very best to win.”

– Newcastle signed five players in January to boost their chances of survival, with Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood playing against Watford and Leeds United, while Matt Targett, Dan Burn and Bruno Guimaraes are awaiting their debuts.

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Baptism of victory for Lampard as Everton beat Brentford in Lampard’s first outing

Mueez Ajao

– For coach Frank Lampard, there is no baptism of fire at Everton.

– Rather, his a baptism of victory.

– The Everton’s new manager made the perfect start as Brentford were well beaten in the FA Cup fourth round at Goodison Park.

– Lampard, who succeeded the unpopular Rafael Benitez on Monday, was afforded a rapturous welcome before kick-off and Everton made it a winning opening with a convincing and confident performance.

– Everton led after 31 minutes – the first time they have gone ahead in a game since 23 October – when substitute Yerry Mina, on for the injured Ben Godfrey, powered home Demarai Gray’s corner.

Also Read: Cole joins Frank Lampard as Everton’s first-team coach

– The excellent Richarlison doubled Everton’s advantage three minutes after the interval when he lofted Allan’s inviting pass over the onrushing Brentford keeper David Raya.

– Ivan Toney quickly pulled one back for the Bees from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Jordan Pickford, but Everton responded to kill off any hopes of a comeback.

– Mina’s presence was once again a significant factor as another Gray corner arrived at the far post for Mason Holgate to score just after the hour.

– Andros Townsend drilled home the fourth in stoppage time to give Lampard the victory he would have been desperate to secure.

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Cole joins Frank Lampard as Everton’s first-team coach

Mueez Ajao

– Former Chelsea and Arsenal full-back Ashley Cole has been named as one of new manager Frank Lampard’s assistant coaches at Everton, the Premier League club said on Thursday.

– The former England defender will become a first-team coach, joining from Chelsea’s academy to work alongside assistant managers Joe Edwards and Duncan Ferguson under Lampard, who was appointed as manager on Monday.

– “I was thrilled when Frank asked me to join him at Everton,” Cole said. “This is a brilliant opportunity with a fantastic club and I am coming here to work hard and try to help bring success to Everton.”

Also Read: OFFICIAL: Frank Lampard has been confirmed as the new Everton manager

– “The chance to link up again with Frank was another huge draw. He is an excellent manager and leader. With the rest of the staff here, we have everything in place for what we want to achieve together.”

– Cole played alongside Lampard at Chelsea, where together they won one Premier League title, four FA Cups and the 2012 Champions League.

– “Everyone knows about his superb playing career and what he has achieved in the game,” Lampard added.

– “He is now a well-respected coach which has been recognised by his work with England Under-21s. He’ll bring a wealth of enthusiasm, game-play experience and is a very good young coach who adds strength to our coaching staff.”

– Everton begin life under Lampard on Saturday against Brentford in the FA Cup fourth round, before travelling to Newcastle on Tuesday in the Premier League.

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OFFICIAL: Frank Lampard has been confirmed as the new Everton manager

Mueez Ajao

– Former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard will return to the Premier League after being named as the new Everton manager, the club have announced.

– The 43-year-old replaces Rafa Benitez, who was sacked earlier this month. He will be joined by Joe Edwards as assistant manager and Paul Clement as first-team coach.

– “It is a huge honour for me to represent and manage a club the size and tradition of Everton Football Club,” Lampard said. “I’m very hungry to get started. After speaking to the owner, Chairman and the Board, I very much felt their passion and ambition. I hope they felt my ambition and how hard I want to work to bring it together.

Also Read: Christian Eriksen has joined Brentford for the rest of the season

– “You can feel the passion Everton fans have for their club. That will be hugely important. As a team – the competitive level that the Premier League brings and the position we are in the table – we certainly need that. It’s a two-way thing. I think Everton is a unique club in that you can really understand what the fans want to see. The first thing they want is fight and desire and that must always be our baseline.

– “My first message to the players will be that we have to do this together. We’ll try to do our job and I know the fans will be there backing us.”

– Lampard began his managerial career at Derby County in 2018, reaching the Championship playoff final during his only season at the club, before leaving to replace Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea.

– The former England midfielder guided the club to Champions League qualification during his first season in charge, as well as the FA Cup final, despite being restricted by a transfer ban for the first half of the campaign.

– Lampard began his second season with a bolstered squad following a £220 million spending spree in the 2020 summer transfer window, but was unable to maintain Chelsea’s form, resulting in his dismissal in January 2021. His replacement, Thomas Tuchel, subsequently won the Champions League.

– For Everton, Lampard represents the seventh permanent manager since David Moyes’ 11-year reign ended in 2013 when he succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

– Lampard’s first game with his new team will be against Brentford in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday.

– Everton have won once in the league since September and are in 16th place in the Premier League, just four points above the relegation zone.

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Rooney attacks Abramovich over Lampard sacking

Calvert-Lewin reaping rewards of playing regularly at Everton - Rooney
Rooney

Manchester United’s ex-striker, Wayne Rooney, has attacked Chelsea big boss, Roman Abramovich over the sacking of the club’s manager, Frank Lampard.

He said the decision was harsh, hasty and negatively predictable.

Chelsea gave Lampard the boot after his team showed continual failure, shying away from the top contenders’ zone.

Rooney said the man deserved to be given more time.

He noted:

‘The evidence doesn’t lie. Look at Jurgen Klopp. He came to Liverpool, was given time, and won the Premier League and the Champions League.

‘If you go back further you look at Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson. David Moyes got Everton in the Champions League and Sean Dyche doing a fantastic job at Burnley.

‘Since Roman Abramovich came to Chelsea, it’s well known that they don’t tend to give managers much time to put their ideas in place.

‘They demand almost instant success and if you don’t get it then you pay the price and I think Frank will have known that.

‘He had a fantastic season last year, playing a lot of the young lads and making the Champions League.

‘So now it’s a bit premature [to sack him] in my opinion. If they were 20 points behind the top four for instance then you could understand it a bit more but they are still in touching distance.’

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We shouldn’t have allowed the counter attack – Lampard

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Lasun Alagbe

Like a child keeping away a knife after it has cut its finger, Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has identified what they should not have allowed to happen during the EPL match they lost to Wolves on Tuesday.

The latter were down by a goal before they bounced back to beat Chelsea 2-1.

Reflecting on the match and its aftermath, Lampard said, among other errors, his boys should not have given room to the counter attack that gave Wolves glory.

AFP quoted him as saying, “Performance is what gives you results. We were playing very well, on a long unbeaten run and then maybe the lads think ‘we’re playing well’. The minute you think you’re playing well, things like this can happen,” said a visibly irked Lampard after Pedro Neto broke clear to win the game in the 95th minute.

“If you’re not playing well which we weren’t tonight, hang on to the 1-0. Play, control the game, and don’t allow counter attacks like we did.”

Chelsea ‘long way’ from being title contenders - Lampard
Lampard
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Kante ruled fit against Bayern – Lampard

Kante ruled fit against Bayern - Lampard
Ngolo-kante

Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante has been ruled fit for their Champions League Round of 16 second leg at Bayern Munich on Saturday as the Blues struggle with injuries.

Coach Frank Lampard is already without Cesar Azpilicueta, Christian Pulisic and Pedro who all picked up injuries during Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat by Arsenal in the FA Cup final. Willian is also out.

Lampard told reporters that American Pulisic’s injury — a hamstring strain — could rule him out for six weeks while Azpilicueta would be sidelined for three.

But he will have fit again Ruben Loftus-Cheek ready to start.

Chelsea lost 3-0 in London in the first leg and with the string of injuries at the end of their domestic season decimating his squad, Lampard said his players would need to be careful.

“I wouldn’t say all guns blazing or keep it tight,” he said about his tactics. “We want to get our game right as a whole.”

“When you play a team as good as they are, you have to play very well and we didn’t play well enough (in the first leg).”

Bayern are in the hunt for a treble of titles after winning the domestic league and Cup double.

Lampard will be drawing on his own playing experience in Munich, when they came from a goal down in 2012 to win a penalty shootout against Bayern and lift the trophy, to motivate his players.

“If I try to use all the short stories from my career to the players they would get very bored, but I want them to feel and show they can turn this game around. Then they can attempt to do something special,” he said.


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Lampard has faith in Chelsea youngsters

Frank Lampard says he will have no fear giving his Chelsea youngsters their chance to make an impact at Stamford Bridge this season.

Chelsea’s all-time record goalscorer begins his managerial reign at the club on Sunday away to Manchester United in the English Premier League (EPL).

It would be no surprise if his team includes youngsters like Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Mason Mount.

While Chelsea’s transfer ban and the departure of Eden Hazard to Real Madrid means Lampard’s task is a sizeable one, the former midfielder has belief.

He believes it is an opportunity for the club to push through youth.

Midfielder Mount, 20, striker Abraham, 21, and defender Tomori, also 21, were all on loan at Championship club Derby County last season when Lampard cut his teeth in management.

He almost got the Rams promoted.

Had Chelsea been able to make new signings, the chances are they may have been farmed out again.

Instead, the ones available are now integral to Lampard’s plans.

“Last year was a great experience working with them, because they are hungry. They want to learn, they ask questions on the training pitch and I love that,” Lampard said.

“I understand the position we are in with the ban. It brings up different possibilities, albeit it’s tough in a way.

“It’s also an opportunity for the young lads, to prove that they are good enough to get into the first team.

“I want to be competitive and want us to win. So, it won’t be all about how many young players I can get in the team.

“But, if they show themselves in training, I will have no fear in putting them in.”

While expectation levels at Chelsea are lower this year, Lampard says the target is still to challenge for the title.

Finishing in the top four again would be seen as success for his first season in charge.

“It’s a hard one,” he said. “Chelsea are normally in the title race to some degree.

“It’s getting harder, particularly with the standards set by (Manchester) City and Liverpool last year. We understand there is a gap to the rest of us.

“But I can’t start a season at Chelsea saying `I don’t want to win the league’. We have to have that mindset.

“We have to have that mentality and we’ll do our best to be right up there.”

The sale of centre-back David Luiz to Arsenal on Thursday also opens up possibilities for other players, Lampard said.

“He was a great servant for the club,” added the 41-year-old, who was a team mate of Luiz when they won the UEFA Champions League in 2012.

“But I have got confidence in the players we have. We are well stocked in that area.

“We have internationals like (Antonio) Rudiger, (Kurt) Zouma, (Andreas) Christensen. We wish David all the best, even though he went to Arsenal.

“We’ll concentrate on ourselves and let’s see some of those players who haven’t had as much game time as they want but who are now relatively experienced players show what they can do.”