Michael Keane has offered an insight into Everton's pre-season training under Frank Lampard - and explained why he sees no signs of the bond the club built in the early months of 2022 fading away.
Lampard and his backroom staff welcomed back the bulk of their squad on Monday, with only those who represented their nations over the summer being given an extended break. However, many of those of players returned to training on Saturday.
The Blues finished 16th last season, having secured their Premier League survival on the penultimate day with a dramatic 3-2 win over Crystal Palace at Goodison Park. Lampard’s side came from 2-0 down at the break to claim all three points.
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And speaking on his side’s return to pre-season training, Keane has explained how he believes his side will be fitter, stronger and sharper than they were last season. While the defender also hinted that his side will adopt a much more proactive approach in the forthcoming campaign.
He said: "[The manager] has been brilliant since he came in, he has galvanised a squad, got us pulling in the same direction, playing better football and getting better results.
"Coming in the middle of the season, it's not easy for a new manager to get all his ideas across, he'll be looking to do that more in this pre-season.
"We've only been back training for four days now and it's been really tough, we know we're going to be pushed in pre-season and that's a good thing.
“We weren't good enough last year - we needed to be fitter, sharper, stronger. I think we're definitely going to be that judging from the first four days where we've been back in.
“At the same time, it's enjoyable. A lot of football as well as running - not just running for the sake of it, mixing it up well. I think we'll be in good shape in a few weeks."
Ahead of their last three home matches, thousands of Everton supporters arrived early and took to the streets to produce incredible scenes as Lampard and his squad arrived for the game. Banners and flags were on full display, there was constant loud singing and numerous smoke bombs filled the air to create a raucous atmosphere.
Similar scenes had also been witnessed outside Finch Farm ahead of the Blues' two away trips to Leicester and Watford as supporters looked to inspire their side over the line.
"The bond is still there, 100 percent," Keane told CBS Sports when asked if the connection between supporters, players and staff was still in place ahead of the new campaign.
"The last six weeks of last season was probably the hardest time of my career, but also the best to see how the Everton fans, the whole club came together in a desperate time.
“Obviously in general, it was a season to forget. But that time was something special, what the fans brought to us, the energy they gave us players and staff, that we then managed to repay that on the pitch.
"It was a period of time that I'll never forget, I know all of the lads who were here will never forget. Hopefully, we can carry that momentum, that connection with the fans forward this season.
“I think we showed, when we are together like that, what we can do. It was a special place and a very hard place to come for the opposition."
Before Keane continued: "Everybody realised how serious it was and we were pulling the same direction no matter what. Whether you were playing, whether you weren't playing, there was no sulking going on.
"Everybody was sticking together, us and the fans. It was just great to be a part of and obviously, looking back in hindsight now we're safe, maybe it will be a good thing going forward.
"Us as players have seen how important the fans are, not that we didn't know that already, but the way they were the last six weeks was something we've never seen.
“We've seen what they can be like and what they can do, how much they can push us on. Obviously, we don't want to be in that situation again, we hope to improve a lot this year and to give the fans happier times because they went through a lot last year.
“For most of the season, it wasn't good enough. And we don't want to do that to the fans again."
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