Frank Lampard admitted he could not control “the talk” around his position after a shambolic defeat by Brighton left the Everton manager fighting for his future.
Brighton scored three goals in six minutes at Goodison Park as Everton collapsed to an eighth defeat in 11 games in all competitions. Fans turned on the board as Roberto De Zerbi’s side strolled to victory, calling for them to be sacked following years of mismanagement under the owner, Farhad Moshiri – but it is the club’s seventh permanent manager inside seven years whose job is under immediate threat.
Lampard, who was deep in conversation with Everton’s director of football, Kevin Thelwell, after the defeat, said: “Since I have been here we have been in this situation of a relegation battle, last year and through this season. It is not a case of fear [for my job], it is a case of keep working. I cannot control the talk or the decisions when you are around this area of the table. This is what happens. When you lose a game like this, I absolutely understand any reaction. I don’t listen to too much of it because if you do it becomes your focus point.”
The Everton manager refused to divulge what he said to the players after their third successive home defeat but admitted it was up to them, and him, to take responsibility for the team’s latest relegation fight.
Lampard added: “I don’t think it is time to go into the dressing room talk. It is about personal responsibility and that is down to every player and myself. What could I do better? What can you do better the next time? I have seen enough on Saturday [in the 1-1 draw at Manchester City] in terms of parts of the performance [to believe I can turn things around]. What isn’t good enough is the consistency to get results. The first half I didn’t hate but the six minutes is not good enough from us and if you are going to perform like that defensively then you will lose games.”