Frank Lampard has offered an assessment on his task at Everton and says he is ‘really excited’ for the future after taking charge at Goodison Park.
Lampard was appointed as Everton’s new manager on a two-and-a-half-year contract on Monday, with the former Chelsea boss named as Rafael Benitez’s replacement following a difficult start to the season for the Toffees.
The 43-year-old will take charge of the club for the first time in the FA Cup’s fourth round against Brentford this weekend, before the focus turns to improving league results with Everton just four points above the Premier League’s relegation places.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, he says he is ready to work as he looks to bring results to Everton both in the short and long term.
“I don’t sit here craving time, in terms of a two or three-year vision,” said Lampard. “I know it is very nice to talk about the stadium and where we want to be in the next few years but what I’ve learned — and certainly being at Chelsea — is that you just need to get your head down and work.
“If you can do good things, you can move in the right direction and you keep working. I certainly haven’t asked for any assurances.
“I’ll be good if the style and the way of playing can be enjoyed by the fans. But, particularly, I will be as good as the results we can produce in the short term and, hopefully, the long term. I’m in a great job and very proud to be here. Now is the time to work and do the best job I can.”
"Dominic Calvert-Lewin picked up a small knock in the last game so won't be available on Saturday. We hope he can be back for the games coming up."
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— Everton (@Everton) February 3, 2022
Lampard was sacked during his second season at Chelsea following an indifferent start to the campaign, with the former England midfielder lasting just 18 months in the role at Stamford Bridge.
He discussed whether he now has a point to prove upon his return to the Premier League and is hopeful that can bring out the best from him at Everton.
“It’s the world we live in,” he said. “If you decide to be the manager of a football club you are not going to cruise through your career without having points to prove at various different times.
“Even the most successful managers have that so I have got no issue with it. As a player, I found I had a point to prove at times; sometimes it brings the best out of you and I hope it does again.”
Lampard is confident that Everton can turn around their fortunes this season and says he is optimistic about where he can take the side in the coming months.
“There is a reason why things haven’t gone so well this season,” he added. “It can happen. But my job is not to reflect on the ‘whys’ too much. It is to reflect on what I can get out of them and I was very pleased to see them in the last three days of training.
“There are areas where I think I can get really excited — and hopefully Everton fans can — about where we can take this squad.”
