Everton boss Frank Lampard sent stark warning by Patrick Viera
Patrick Viera has sent Everton boss Frank Lampard a stark warning ahead of the Blues FA Cup clash against Crystal Palace on Sunday (March 20).
The Toffees travel to Selhurst Park as they look to build on last night’s (March 17) win against Newcastle by booking themselves in the semi-final.
The Premier League legends shared some time together in the MLS before making their moves to England but all of that will be forgotten as both managers look to win.
“I played against Frank for a couple of years and worked with him at New York,” Viera told Metro, “I don’t want to say I know him well but we know each other.
“When he was playing at New York and I was coaching the team of course we spent a lot of time talking about football and how we see the game.
“Seeing him as a coach at Chelsea and Everton, he had a really good experience as manager.
“We had the same route: ex-players who want to do well at managing. We both know how difficult it is because he got the sack at Chelsea and I got the sack at Nice.
“Your name doesn’t matter. What matters is the result and the way the team plays.”
Go for it
This is a game that has split the Everton fan base. Many believe the Blues could do without any distractions, including the FA Cup, as they look to secure Premier League safety under Lampard.
Every game is a must win in the league for the Toffees as unrealistic as that is and taking their eyes off the prize for one game could be costly and if any player suffers an injury it could be detrimental in their relegation dogfight.
However, last night was a huge win and it has given Lampard’s team some breathing room, not much but some.
It isn’t often Everton find themselves in the quarter finals of a competition, and the FA Cup is one of the biggest and oldest competitions in English football that they simply can’t afford not to go for.
They haven’t won a trophy since 1995 and that tragic drought needs to come to an end. The new boss would be a legend if he won a trophy so soon into his tenure at the club.
It would be a massive confidence boost for the players and a successful cup run would surely carry them over the line in the league.
In other Everton news, Frank Lampard breaks his hand celebrating the Blues’ last-gasp winner.
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