Footage emerges of a 'terrified' Frank Lampard meeting fans before Everton vs West Ham
Footage of a conversation between Everton manager Frank Lampard and a fan is doing the rounds on social media ahead of their crunch clash against West Ham.
The Toffees sit in the Premier League relegation zone after picking up just one point from six games.
As a result, Lampard's future at Goodison Park is uncertain. In fact, reports suggest a poor performance against West Ham is 'make or break' for the former Chelsea midfielder, who only took over in January 2022.
With all that in mind, fan footage has emerged of a nervous-looking Lampard meeting a number of fans in a hotel lobby ahead of Saturday afternoon's game at the London Stadium.
As you can see in the footage above, the Everton fans involved backed Lampard. "We are all behind you," the supporter says. "Even though we are under a bit of pressure, we are 100 percent behind you and we're all here today."
Here's how social media reacted to the video.
One account said: "Frank Lampard looks absolutely terrified during this conversation with a group of Everton fans," while another fan commented: "Feel for Frank Lampard. He looks absolutely terrified."
A third wrote: "That must mean a lot to him man. Great to see fans like this backing the manager and encouraging him."
A fourth said: "He looks genuinely scared."
Lampard, meanwhile, says he will "not cry" at the pressure he is under at present.
"It is a pressurised job, no doubt," he said ahead of kick-off.
"But many people outside football do pressurised jobs with more at stake. I never try to cry too much about that because I am very proud and honoured to have managed great football clubs."
The 44-year-old's uncle, Harry Redknapp, admitted the Everton manager is under "severe pressure" ahead of Saturday's clash against former side West Ham.
“Frank’s under severe pressure at Everton,“ Redknapp told talkSPORT. “It won’t be a pleasant place to be stood on that touchline if you’re getting beat tomorrow, that’s for sure."
He added: "I speak to him, obviously I ring him and see how he is.
“He’s trying for his life to get one or two in. He knows they’re short in certain areas. They were half interested in Danny Ings. You look at these other clubs and look at the money they’re spending. It’s incredible.
“Even Forest, look at the players they’ve bought in. They’ve probably signed 25 players since the end of last season. But at Everton, nothing seems to happen there at the moment.
"They just seem to be plodding along with what they’ve got and trying to get the best out of what they’ve got but they’re short of real quality.”
Thoughts on Lampard's future at Goodison Park? Do you think the club should back him?