Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard insists that some things won’t be so nice for Dele Alli as he attempts to get his transfer deadline day signing back to the top of his game for Everton but insists honesty is the best policy for both himself and the midfielder. In regards to working out why Alli has been unable to hit the heights of late and how he might return to those previous levels again,
Frank Lampard said: “I think the discussions and conversations have to happen. There’s such a big eye on Dele’s situation and we are Everton, we signed a big player and we want to get the best out of him. My job is to do that. I’ve had conversations with Dele around his game, around everything that surrounds his game day to day. Also I’ve got coaching staff who can have those conversations. I think it is important we do that. That should be our service to every player because there is a lot of things for every player whether they’re 31 years of age and been around the block or 19, Anthony Gordon, a young player, or Dele for whatever his circumstances are. I will focus on that and have an understanding of the other sides of the game. I mentioned this to Dele the other day, getting everything right for him. Some things will be nice; what can we improve and be positive about while some things maybe won’t be as nice whether it’s training or whether it is pushing himself in different ways. Quickly we have to find a balance for that and Dele has to buy into it. I feel that he is and he’s certainly ready to do so.”
Some have pointed out that as the greatest goal-scoring midfielder in Premier League history, if anyone is going to get the best out of Alli then it should be Lampard but the Blues boss doesn’t think his own playing career necessarily gives him an advantage over other managers.
Frank Lampard added: “I don’t know, I’m not sure about that because my story was very different. I was probably a slower burner than Dele, in my 20s. My career was different, his is different, everyone’s is different. I don’t think a career I’ve had comes with empathy or not. You have your own style and own way of doing it. I do try and be quite thoughtful, I do try and make sure the person is as well as they can be because that then gets the best player as well as having the right duty of care. I’ll cover those bases as I see. As long as Dele feels it, he can be open with me and I can be open with him. That’s the first rule to try to make sure to get where we want to be.”
