Frank Lampard may have lost Everton dressing room as sack talks revealed – pundit
Noel Whelan has insisted Frank Lampard must find a way to get the Everton squad “back on side” as he faces the sack.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Leeds striker admitted the 43-year-old faces a “conundrum” with his man-management efforts “not working”.
An Everton source told Football Insider before Saturday’s 1-0 win over Man United that (9 April) that club chiefs have held discussions about sacking Lampard and bringing in an interim manager.
The Toffees currently sit one point above the relegation zone, albeit with a game in hand over Watford.
Whelan admitted Lampard’s “tough love” and “confidence” building efforts have not had the desired effect.
He suggested the Everton manager may have already lost the dressing room.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “This is new territory for Frank Lampard. He’s never been in this position before. Not even with Derby, never with Chelsea, never as a manager.
“This is a different skill set he’s going to have to figure out and find out how to get the best out of these players. He’s tried the tough love and slating all of them.
“Now he’s trying to give them that confidence, saying they didn’t deserve to lose and he’s really happy with what he’s got. That’s not working.
“There’s a real conundrum here for Frank Lampard. How do you get these players back on side and keep them driven and focused? I’m sure they are because they’re professionals.
“This is now a manager where you find out how good you are. Look, if he gets out of it, it’s probably one of the biggest accolades that he’ll ever have in his career.
“It’ll be one of the biggest and best feelings. Despite winning the Champions League and FA cups and league titles that he’s got, this might be his biggest accomplishment this season as a player and the manager.
“He’s never been in this position before. This is a real test of character not just for the players but for Frank Lampard as well.”
In other news, Everton verdict on ‘unprecedented’ punishment after £372million update.