Frank Lampard has discussed Everton’s FA Cup clash at Manchester United, his future, and the need for January signings.
Everton travel to face Manchester United in the FA Cup’s third round on Friday evening, as the Toffees look to bounce back from a disappointing run of form. Lampard’s side dropped into the Premier League’s bottom three after defeat to Brighton on Tuesday, the club’s sixth game without a win.
However, Lampard is hopeful his team can take encouragement from their last trip to Manchester after Everton held Manchester City to a draw at the Etihad last weekend.
“It is a similar type of stadium we are going to. Man Utd are a good team with good individuals,” he told his pre-match press conference.
“We’ll have to be diligent, organised and have the same work ethic as we had at City.”
Lampard was asked whether this weekend’s game represented a ‘free hit’ for his team, away from the pressures of the Premier League relegation battle.
He insisted that he does not view it that way, and is keen to extend both his and Everton’s proud histories in the competition.
“I don’t see it that way. The FA Cup is a competition of pride for Everton in its history and for me in my history. I give it the same importance.
“It’s a different competition but on the back of the feeling after Brighton, whether it was three points or next round in the FA Cup on the cards, we have to approach it in exactly the same way.”
🗣 "I'm a big man who is working for a great club and I'll keep doing it."
Frank Lampard addresses the pressure surrounding his role as Everton manager pic.twitter.com/8jv3wngK1R
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The manner of the 4-1 loss to Brighton has increased the pressure on Lampard’s position at the club, but the 44-year-old revealed that he had sought no assurances from the Everton board.
“I never seek reassurances; my job is to focus day to day, game to game. I don’t need reassurances, I want to improve everything every day,” he said.
“I came here nearly a year ago and my honest feeling was we were going in the direction of relegation. Evertonians have such passion for this club and we managed to have an incredible time together. It is going to be a tough journey; surviving a relegation battle is all well and good but it is a process. I’m not silly, we need results.”
Lampard discussed the impact of Everton’s recent form on the dressing room, after seven defeats in the club’s past ten league fixtures. The loss to Brighton saw Everton concede three goals in a six-minute spell, with individual errors contributing to a poor result.
“It has been good considering the tough night,” he said. “Three goals in six minutes impacted the stadium, understandably, and the players, because they are humans. There is no beating around the bush after that; yesterday was not nice, you don’t want to lose games.
“The reality is, we have to compare – Man City looked like it did and Brighton looked different.”
Everton are currently assessing the transfer market for new additions with Lampard keen to improve his attacking options. The club have reportedly seen a loan approach for Danny Ings rejected by Aston Villa and Lampard said all options are open for his recruitment team this month.
“We are looking at both loans and permanent deals. All things are on the table, the finances aren’t my strength but we want to improve in January.
“But my job is working with the players we’ve got here now and trying to get results against Man Utd and Southampton. It is not an easy window but we will try because we need it.”
