Everton: Frank Lampard says he needs results, not time in a refreshingly realistic assessment

There was talk of ambition and plenty of respectful nods to a proud club’s past. But, as Frank Lampard faced the cameras for the first time in his new job, one thing above all leapt from his words: realism.

Tradition invites supporters to get excited at the appointment of a new manager and those who follow Everton certainly hope Lampard’s arrival is a trigger for a more settled period, given the number of comings and goings over the last six years. He must be given the opportunity to succeed.

When that point was made to the 43-year-old, though, his brow furrowed. Lampard is the greatest player in Chelsea’s history but club legend status did not stop Roman Abramovich sacking him when their top-four hopes were in jeopardy.

Frank Lampard showed a refreshing sense of realism in his first press conference with Everton

Owner Farhad Moshiri believes Lampard will lead Everton into their new stadium in 2024

So although Everton owner Farhad Moshiri believes Lampard will lead them into their new home at Bramley Moore Dock, the man himself was rather more circumspect. There is no point looking too far into the future when you have a point to prove.

‘I don’t sit here craving time, in terms of a two or three-year vision,’ said Lampard. ‘I know it is very nice to talk about the stadium and where we want to be in the next few years but what I’ve learned — and certainly being at Chelsea — is that you just need to get your head down and work.

‘If you can do good things, you can move in the right direction and you keep working. I certainly haven’t asked for any assurances.

‘I’ll be good if the style and the way of playing can be enjoyed by the fans. But, particularly, I will be as good as the results we can produce in the short term and, hopefully, the long term. I’m in a great job and very proud to be here. Now is the time to work and do the best job I can.’

The last 12 months have been enjoyable but the longer he was out of work, the more he craved to be back in the spotlight. The prospect of being back on the touchline has, in his words, ‘got the juices flowing’ and there is a sense that he is on a mission to show those who have questions about him, following his dismissal from Chelsea, that he can be a success.

‘It’s the world we live in,’ he said. ‘If you decide to be the manager of a football club you are not going to cruise through your career without having points to prove at various different times.

Lampard has signed a two-and-a-half year deal but knows how temporary coaching jobs are

‘Even the most successful managers have that so I have got no issue with it. As a player, I found I had a point to prove at times; sometimes it brings the best out of you and I hope it does again.’

Listening to him talk, it was impossible not to feel that this is the start of a new era. He has a huge amount of work to do to change the direction of this team but, for once, the tone of an Everton press conference was upbeat.

The change in energy should not be underestimated.

Lampard, who gave a nod to the appointment of David Moyes in March 2002 when mentioning ‘The People’s Club’, has assembled a robust backroom, with his former Chelsea team-mate Ashley Cole yesterday joining Joe Edwards, Chris Jones, Paul Clement and Duncan Ferguson.

There has definitely been a change in momentum, not least with the additions of Donny van de Beek and Dele Alli on deadline day, but Lampard was quick to stress that he saw huge potential in the group he has inherited.

Van de Beek (left) and Alli both joined Everton on transfer deadline day of the January window

Dominic Calvert-Lewin will miss the Toffees’ FA Cup clash with Brentford due to a ‘small knock’

‘There is a reason why things haven’t gone so well this season,’ said Lampard. ‘It can happen. But my job is not to reflect on the “whys” too much. It is to reflect on what I can get out of them and I was very pleased to see them in the last three days of training.

‘There are areas where I think I can get really excited — and hopefully Everton fans can — about where we can take this squad.’

Again, it wasn’t over the top, it was just realism — something Everton have needed for a long, long time.