Here are the latest Premier League headlines on Friday, 8 April 2022.
Lampard on speculation
Everton manager Frank Lampard has refused to be drawn into discussing speculation surrounding his future ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Manchester United. Lampard suffered his eighth defeat in 12 league matches against Burnley on Wednesday to plunge the Toffees deep into relegation trouble.
Speculation surrounding his future has tentatively began to grow in the wake of the 3-2 loss at Turf Moor, despite only arriving on Merseyside just over two months ago. Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, though, Lampard says it is already something he has got used to in his brief time in management and has vowed to keep on fighting.
He said: “For me, in my relatively short managerial career, I probably spent 18 months at Chelsea with the same. Over that 18 months you’re probably always two games from the sack.
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“Maybe that’s just a symptom of football and the Premier League, it’s pressure, that’s fine, you sign up for that, I’ve got no problem with that. Even if you’re in the FA Cup final or make the top four or whatever, you still know the rules.
“So I’ve got no problem with that in terms of speculation. We’re a huge club, people want to talk about it. In football terms I don’t think anyone else should talk about us any being any different from the other teams in the battle we’re in.
“We’ve got no right to not be fighting a battle against relegation, irrespective of history. But what I am is proud to manage here and proud to keep the history of this club going in a positive way. I don’t buy into it (the speculation), I do my job.”
Frank on Eriksen future
Brentford manager Thomas Frank is hopeful of keeping Christian Eriksen beyond this season but is not expecting anything to be agreed until the end of the campaign. Eriksen signed for the Bees in the January window, in what is his first club since suffering a cardiac arrest for Denmark at the EUROs in June.
Eriksen has made an instant impact in West London, though, as the Bees have won all three of the games he has started, in which he has scored and assisted once. Via quotes from the Daily Mail, Frank believes Brentford have a chance of keeping him, but is in no rush for a decision.
“I think I am going to get this question before and after each game until something is decided either way. The thing is that I don't think anything will be decided before the end of the season.
“We are interested for him to stay, massively - I would love that. When or when not that is confirmed, that's where we can say something. I could say we're speaking every week or we're not speaking every week but it's actually irrelevant.
“I think you all understand we would like to keep him and it's up to Christian to find out what he wants to do. I think we have a chance (of keeping him) - 100 per cent.”
Guardiola on Klopp
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has labelled Jurgen Klopp as his ‘biggest rival’ ever in his managerial career. City are set to go head-to-head in the Premier League with Klopp’s Liverpool on Sunday in what many are dubbing as a title decider.
The Citizens are just one point clear of Liverpool heading into the fixture and it marks yet another huge clash between the two sides. Via quotes from the Irish Examiner, Guardiola believes that when he calls time on his career in the game, he will look back on Klopp’s Liverpool side as the toughest opponents he has ever had.
He said: “They have been an incredible, marvellous contender, with good games. I admire Liverpool and the way they do it but enjoy the challenge. Jurgen, as a manager, has been the biggest rival I’ve ever had in my career and I think what both teams propose is good for football.
“The point is not a jibe to Jose. He is an exciting manager and I was his rival but I’ve been here five years and played many more times against Liverpool. Except the year we made 100 points, the rest were tight. It is because they are good and hopefully they think we are good too.
“I will remember my period here, when I’m retired watching and playing golf, I’ll remember my biggest rival was Liverpool, for sure.”
