Frank Lampard has rejected Richarlison’s claims that Everton lack ambition ahead of their reunion on Saturday.
Richarlison quit Everton to join Tottenham for £60million in the summer and questioned the ambition of his former club in a recent interview. Lampard refused to criticise the Brazil striker and respects him for playing a leading role in last season’s survival act when he was their top scorer with 10 goals.
But he insists Everton do want to progress, claiming he would not have come to Goodison Park if he felt the club lacked ambition.
“I love Richy,” said Lampard. “Every club is relative, this club has spent a lot of money over the last five, six, seven years, so ambition can be measured in different ways. The history of this club, the First Division titles we have won, the FA Cups we have won, all those things come into the conversation.
“If you’re talking about the here and now, I’m certainly ambitious. I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t. I’m trying to build something. It’s clear to see Tottenham are in the Champions League and we’re not. In simple terms, that’s it. I think that was probably his point and when you get asked, those things can be translated in different ways.
“I think it’s a non-important question and answer, it’s done. We all wish Richy well. It’s a nice situation for a player to leave a good with a good feeling. He left with dignity, he left with his head held high with his team-mates, myself, the fans, the club. He gave everything for this club.
“The fans respected the work ethic and quality he brought here, his team-mates respected that. He moves on and we certainly move on.”
Richarlison, 25, has already made an impact at Tottenham, scoring both goals in their recent 2-0 Champions League win over Marseille and Lampard is surprised that people are surprised by his success. He knows Everton must be switched on this evening at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium if they are going to keep the Samba star quiet and bounce back from their loss to Manchester United.
“I don’t know why the rest of the world should be surprised, maybe it’s because he’s come from Everton, I don’t know how glamorous that is for some people,” he said. “It shouldn’t be that case. A very talented player, when he was here, he was always Brazil’s No 9 and you think of the competition for places they have in that team.
“I think he’s well respected in the football world. Maybe there were other things people were not so keen on. I always found him a pleasure to work with. I enjoyed working with him. We know him well, but his style is slightly unpredictable, which is one of the big plusses about him. We’re aware of his threat and we’ll have to try and nullify it.”
