Frank Lampard Criticized for Alleged Unfair Treatment of Everton Player: ‘He Showed Disrespect Towards Me and It Was Heartbreaking’
ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE, an Everton player, has spoken out against Frank Lampard, expressing that he felt “disrespected” by his previous manager.
As the 2023-24 season commenced, Doucoure found himself out of Lampard’s considerations, despite having been a pivotal player when Lampard first arrived at the club.
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The midfielder was sidelined after starting the opening match of the season and did not participate in another Prem game until Lampard was let go in January 2023.
Doucoure made his return to the lineup under Sean Dyche, showcasing that Lampard’s decision was misguided.
In an interview with The Overlap, he expressed his dissatisfaction with his former manager’s trust in him: “He did not have faith in me. I genuinely don’t grasp it, as this has been my toughest period with a manager. All other managers believed in me.
“Frank Lampard was the only one who didn’t believe in me, and I think he made a misjudgment regarding my capabilities.
“I felt that the treatment was unjust. I was sidelined for many matches without being given a chance. This was very upsetting for me. There was an absence of communication between us.
“He didn’t have confidence in me, and I believe that was a significant mistake. I think I proved him wrong afterward because under the new management of Sean Dyche, I became a crucial player in the squad.
“He was a phenomenal player, but as a manager at Everton, this experience should serve as an essential lesson for him, which I believe he has taken to heart.”
Doucoure revealed that his situation under Lampard nearly prompted him to leave the club, especially after he was relegated to training alone or with the Under-21s following a clash with Lampard.
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He elaborated: “Because of my connection with him, I felt isolated, and I was on the brink of leaving the club because being on the bench is intolerable for me. I crave to be on the pitch.
“It was dispiriting… He pushed me away, and I ended up training with the U21s.
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“Following a home game, there was a major confrontation between us, and the next day it was determined that I couldn’t stay with the first team — he felt disrespected by my behavior in front of the team. They advised me to train either alone or with the U21s.
“I think he demonstrated a level of disrespect towards me. I was very close to departing. I didn’t want to, but leaving seemed imminent. It was truly painful.”