Everton need to make Richarlison regret ‘lack of ambition’ quip on Saturday
Richarlison departed Everton for Tottenham over the summer and subsequently slammed the Toffees for lacking ‘ambition’.
The Brazilian striker will return to Goodison Park as an opponent for the first time on Saturday afternoon, and it’s down to Frank Lampard’s side to make him swallow his words.
Evertonians will likely give Richarlison a rousing applause upon his return after his role in the club’s survival last season, but his dig just weeks after joining was bitter on his behalf.
Speaking in a recent interview with FourFourTwo, Richarlison expressed his love for Everton, but also criticised the club’s lack of ambition.
“I was happy at Everton and I’m grateful for everything I learned there. It’s a big club with a lot of history,” said the Brazilian.
“However, perhaps they’re suffering with a lack of ambition nowadays.
“I spent four years there and I could see there was still a very long way to go to achieve big things.”
Fuel for motivation
There’s no doubt that Lampard will be in the dressing room on Saturday afternoon using Richarlison’s quotes as motivation for his players.
Nobody can fault Richarlison for moving to Spurs, and his £60million fee helped the club financially back Lampard this summer.
But the comments were slightly unnecessary, and the Toffees are showing plenty of ambition this season.
Lampard has his side fired up and playing well together as a unit. There’s a real buzz back around Goodison, and fans are rallying behind a side they clearly feel connected to.
On top of that, the board have funded an exciting and groundbreaking new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, and construction looks promising so far as the Toffees prepare to move into a new home.
Everton boast an exciting, young team. Led by a passionate, young manager. With a new modern stadium on the way. If that doesn’t scream ambition I don’t know what does.
It’s down to the players to translate that onto the pitch on Saturday.