Frank Lampard says he’ll do anything he can to get a reaction from Everton’s players for their clash with Manchester City after his side’s defeat at Southampton but admits his players need to make a shift in mentality. Everton have won both of their home games so far under Lampard but now face their sternest test to date under the former Derby County and Chelsea manager as they host reigning Premier League champions Manchester City.
Frank Lampard said: “It’s about belief – and the players need to feel that themselves. There will be times you’re up against it and, as a group, we need to feel belief. It’s not a slant on the group because, when you’ve been losing games, it’s tough to turn that corner as a bad period in a game can remind them of those matches. It’s very easy to seep back into the ways of playing the ball longer and the team getting stretched. They are the things we [the new coaching team] addressed very quickly when we came in here and, in difficult moments, we’ve seen them come back. There is no magic wand to change things instantly and you need to work and focus every day. You’re only as good as how you work and prepare. Until this point, I think we’ve got that right. But a game like we’ve had against Southampton is a reminder of why we’re in the position we’re in.”
Frank Lampard added: “I’ll do everything I can to get a reaction (from the Southampton defeat). The squad are a good bunch and they want to do the right things. We’ve seen that in two of the performances since I’ve been here. I’m confident. We’ll work hard during the week. We’re playing the best team in the league – possibly the best team in the world – but we have to use that as a carrot for us to bring them to Goodison and give them a real proper game.”
