Richard Keys blasts Frank Lampard and Everton players as footage from outside Goodison emerges
Richard Keys has slammed Frank Lampard and his Everton players for practically ignoring the fans when they arrived at Goodison Park on the team bus on Sunday.
Evertonians did their bit ahead of the win over Chelsea, painting the town blue to show their support for the Toffees.
However, when the team arrived at Goodison to a mass of fans, songs, cheers and blue smoke, the fans were ignored.
After seeing the footage of the team arriving, Andy Gray said that he and his former teammates at Everton would have done that.
Keys hit back, saying he expected Lampard to at least wave to the fans and get a cheer out of them.
“I know with my team, I could tell you half a dozen that would have come out and gone like that [raised a hand],” said Gray, as shown on the beIN SPORTS Twitter account.
Keys then replied, saying: “But Andy, what I’m saying to you is I want the manager to.
“Why doesn’t Lampard step off the bus and reacts to those supporters by just applauding them and saying, ‘thank you’. What a reaction you would get.”
Keys added: “Look at those young lads. Just respectfully acknowledge the fact that they’ve come out and made an effort
He’s got a point
While we’re not going to sit here and criticise the players for the way they arrive at a stadium, we will admit that Keys has a point.
Evertonians did everything they possibly could have done ahead of that game.
Chelsea’s manager Thomas Tuchel and their players will have had a very bad night’s sleep due to the fireworks that went off outside their hotel.
And then the Everton squad arrived to the stadium to be greeted by that atmosphere will have no doubt got the fire in their bellies.
One thing that could have stopped them from interacting with the crowd was fear.
They will have no doubt been feeling the pressure ahead of what was such a massive fixture after Burnley’s win over Watford.
Lampard could have at least waved. That’s all he could have done.
It would have meant the world to those who were waiting for the players to arrive for what could have been hours.
In other Everton news, Stan Collymore has taken a big swipe at this 25-year-old who he suggests is taking the Blues down to the Championship.
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