Frank Lampard prepared for “hugely exciting challenge” as Everton go into Premier League relegation battle

The Chelsea legend was speaking to the press for the first time as Toffees boss on why he took the job and what he wants to see from his players as they work towards moving away from the wrong end of the table.
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New Everton head coach Frank Lampard spoke to the press for the first time today since taking over at Goodison Park.

The Premier League great addressed several questions on why he was keen to take the job, how he plans to get them out of the relegation scrap they find themselves in and whether or not he had any reservations about taking the role.

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The 43-year old has been linked with multiple vacancies in the English top flight since leaving Chelsea last year, including Newcastle United and Watford, but says it wasn’t a case about waiting for an “ideal” job.

He said: “There isn’t an ideal job in football, it’s something that has to feel right on both sides.

“I was never in a position where I was hanging out waiting but from the first moments I started speaking to Everton and understood the ambition with the owner and chairman and the awareness of the size of the club it was a hugely exciting challenge.”

Lampard’s first taste of a relegation battle comes with Everton

Frank Lampard during his time as manager of Derby County Frank Lampard during his time as manager of Derby County
Frank Lampard during his time as manager of Derby County

Frank Lampard had a terrific career as a player where he lifted the Premier League, Champions League and just about every other trophy with Chelsea.

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As a manger, he fought for promotion from the Championship with Derby County and tried to deliver further success to the Blues.

However, not since the turn of the millennium when he was a young players with West Ham has he had to deal with the challenge of a club stuck in the bottom half of a league table.

Despite that, the 106 times capped England international is confident he can adapt to the scenario and get the best out of his players.

“Sometimes when you lose games or you’re having a bad period of form it can affect confidence of the players so my job instantly is to affect that and try and bring a real positive atmosphere in positive words and positive messaging.

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“I have seen thing within the way the team are playing that I feel they can do better, every manage will have a different view of how they want to play, my job now is to get as quickly as I can to the pint where you can see the imprint I’ll have on this team.

“In three days we’ve worked very well but that work has to continue.”

He went on to say: “I had some very good times at Chelsea but, as a player, I had some very difficult times. I played at West Ham, moved around as I got older and managed at Derby County where the Championship is a marathon through the year where you can have good periods and bad periods.

“I don’t get concerned about the position in the table, I just look at what’s in front of me, of course you’re aware of it but we’ll be defined in the next 18 games by the work and focus we put in on the training ground and by how we can united the players, club and fans.

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“The fans have such a huge input here into performance, particularly at Goodison, and I felt that here on the reverse.”

Lampard’s experiences with manager merry-go-rounds at Derby County and Chelsea

Lampard has become Everton’s sixth permanent appointment in as many years but says he has no concerns about working under a board who are not against pulling the trigger on dispatching his services.

Indeed, it’s circumstances he will be familiar with from his time with Derby County and Chelsea who are one of world football’s most infamous clubs when it comes to sacking head coaches.

So there were no hesitations for Lampard in taking up the Everton role and he is now very much looking forward to his first game against Brentford this weekend.

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“I didn’t (have any hesitations) because it is the business we work in, it’s not my job to analyse things that happened before me too much because you don’t know the circumstance.

“I always like to take at face value and, having spoken to the owner and the chairman and the board here it was so open which was very refreshing to me to see so many important football people within the club united in trying to find the best way forward.

“I didn’t concern myself too much, I’ve been experienced in two jobs now, when I wen to Derby County everybody told me that the changed managers all the time and it’s the same at Chelsea.

“It’s easily said but I have to put that to the side and just work, understand and appreciate the fact I’m working for a great club and give it my all.

“I can assure fans I’ll give absolutely everything.”