Frank Lampard has revealed he has spoken to members of his squad who were caught up in the ugly scenes following Everton’s defeat to Southampton last weekend.
Thousands of Blues fans remained inside Goodison Park following the 2-1 loss to Nathan Jones’ side. Those supporters who remained demand change at boardroom level, but none is on the horizon, according to the club’s absent owner, Farhad Moshiri.
Footage later emerged online showing some Everton players being stopped in their cars by a small number of people as they left Goodison Park. Both Anthony Gordon and Yerry Mina were involved in separate incidents as they attempted to make their way home.
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And speaking for the first time since the incidents occurred, Lampard revealed he had spoken to both players about what went on, and although he has no issues with supporters voicing their opinion, he is hoping not to see a repeat of the scenes.
He said: "I've spoken to some of the players. I think firstly this is not just an Everton situation. I’ve been in football a long time, I keep saying that but I have.
“I've been at teams where similar things have happened to maybe myself, to a degree, and other players so let's not try and make this an Everton conversation.
“This club has a huge passion which I think is pretty unique. I said that in the good times, so I can say that in the not so good times.
“Sometimes passion can overspill in a good way, what we saw last year with all the welcome and things, and I know the majority of Evertonians just want this team to do well.
“They have got an absolute right to voice an opinion in a game, around the game, in the pub, all those things. Of course we don't want fans going up to players. I think it is a small minority and I have spoken to the players.
“We don’t want that and I would love to not see that again but I also understand the passion of fans and what they want and the players have to understand that when they are working in this industry that sometimes they have to take some things. I think with those things we hope they don’t happen again.”
Lampard was then asked about fears around safety and replied: "Well I would like to hope not and I have not seen anything that has got to those levels at all and we would like to hope not.
"Again, I think it is passion and we would obviously hope that things would never overspill. Again, we all want the same thing as a club, and when I talk about that club, I mean everybody together.
"It is what saw us be such a force in getting out of that relegation battle in terms of the big games that we won and everyone was together and it was a great feeling."
The Everton boss, who was speaking to preview his side's game with West Ham United, was then asked about the incident again later in his press conference - and said: “Like I said before as a coach or manager you have to manage the people.
“You have to understand situations and one part of it is that you have to be robust and have to go again and focus on their job and delivering.
“But you also understand that with young lads it isn't as simple as that. So the players all know I am there to help in those situations.”
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