Everton boss Frank Lampard shares ‘eye-opening’ player mentality issue
Everton boss Frank Lampard admits there is a mentality issue amongst his squad that needs fixing and he’s put the onus on himself to do so.
The Blues fell short against Southampton in the Premier League yesterday which kept them a mere five points off the drop zone in 16th place.
Lampard claimed the Toffees’ league position is an indicator of just how much his squad have struggled this season.
“I think it’s really clear isn’t it? The position we’re in in the table is clear, it’s not something we have to debate,” he said, as per Daily Echo.
“As a team and staff, we just have to work on getting results to improve our position. When we won last week, things looked a lot better and we’ve lost today, and it looks worse.
“But I don’t think we have to deny our position. Our league position explains a lot and is one of the reasons I’m here. It’s my job to find the reasons why this has happened.”
He continued: “When we have been great, we have backed ourselves, but the minute games turn against us there can be a mentality issue for the players.
“Today was really eye-opening in the second half, of where we are and where we want to get to.
“It felt like reverting to type a little bit after we conceded, and I want to change that. So, there’s lots to learn for us.”
Shocking mental strength
It is going to take time for Lampard to properly instil his philosophy on these players.
He has a really tough job in terms of changing everything about this current squad of players, including their mental strength.
The drive and desire to win no matter what wasn’t there at the best of times under the previous managers and when times were tough, the players simply disappeared.
Lampard is so much hungrier than the likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez who were on the decline of their long and rather successful careers when at the club.
The former England international is completely the opposite. He wants to instil a never say die attitude into this squad as he looks to get his managerial career back on track at Goodison Park.
There are some concerns with two home wins and two away losses in four games for the new boss. Lampard has to resolve that record sooner rather than later before Everton losing every time the crowd or game isn’t going their way becomes a recurring problem.
In other Toffees news, Everton ace Dele Alli wows teammates with stunning goal in training.