Frank Lampard has said Everton’s decision to suspend the sponsorship deals with three Russian companies run by the billionaire Alisher Usmanov is proof they are taking the right decisions.
Everton have put their commercial arrangements with USM, who sponsored their Finch Farm training ground and who have a naming-rights option for their new stadium, Megafon and Yota on hold after Usmanov, a business partner of owner Farhad Moshiri, had his assets frozen by the European Union.
Lampard, who denied that Usmanov, who used to own 30 per cent of Arsenal, was one of those to interview him for the Everton job, said his brief time on Merseyside and the show of support for Ukraine before Saturday’s game against Manchester City, underlined his belief in their board.
“Working closely with the people running the club, I have absolute faith they will make the right decisions,” he said. “The way we reacted against Manchester City and the steps we made, I think we were one of the forerunners of showing solidarity and unity. Suspension for me is the right thing to do. I think today again is a show of us as a club doing the right thing.”
The club said in a statement: “Everyone at Everton remains shocked and saddened by the appalling events unfolding in Ukraine. This tragic situation must end as soon as possible, and any further loss of life must be avoided. The players, coaching staff and everyone working at Everton is providing full support to our player Vitalii Mykolenko and his family.”
Everton’s players took the field on Saturday with Ukrainian flags draped around them and Lampard confirmed Mykolenko will begin Thursday's FA Cup game against non-league Boreham Wood. City made Oleksandr Zinchenko captain against Peterborough on Tuesday and Everton will consider if they make some gesture of backing for their Ukraine left-back.
“He will play,” Lampard added. “That was a decision I'd made regardless of the outside situation, purely a football decision. You have to be aware of the life decision for him in the moment. He's starting the game. The conversations I've had, I'd rather keep private because they are delicate.
Everton 0 Manchester City 1: player ratings
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EVERTON RATINGS: Jordan Pickford 8 - Made great saves but couldn’t do anything about the opener. A good game overall for the goalkeeper. Getty Images -
Jonjoe Kenny 6 - Worked hard up the left flank but the left-back will be kicking himself for not scoring what could have been his first goal for Everton, getting the finish all wrong just after the half-hour mark. Reuters -
Michael Keane 6 - Reacted fast when the ball got to City’s wide men inside the box to prevent them cutting the ball back to a forward. Has to react better to the deflection off Holgate for the opener. Reuters -
Mason Holgate 7 - Couldn’t do much about the cross that deflected off him and perilously into the six-yard box. Read the play well overall and looked like he was about to help secure a clean sheet. EPA -
Seamus Coleman 6 - Won the ball back well but sometimes gave away possession too cheaply. AP Photo -
Abdoulaye Doucoure 6 - Enjoyed a solid partnership alongside Allan who constantly disrupted the rhythm of Pep Guardiola’s side. Could have done better on the ball when going forward. EPA -
Allan 7 - Hounded Manchester City players in possession and won the ball back in midfield, usually choosing the right pass afterwards, too. Picked up a silly yellow card for effectively squaring up to the linesman. EPA -
Anthony Gordon 7 - Positive play as the young winger threatened Manchester City with his pace in behind and came close with a free kick that fell on the roof of Ederson’s goal. AP Photo -
Donny van de Beek 6 - Looked to play progressively but didn’t seem to have the numbers to support him. AP Photo -
Alex Iwobi 6 - Was eager to get in behind Laporte that saw him drift offside on occasion, though he did play some direct balls that almost led to a goal for Everton. EPA -
Richarlison 6 - Has to do better with his chances. EPA -
SUB: Dele Alli (Van de Beek 72’) - Worked hard in defence. EPA -
Demarai Gray (Gordon 77’) - Look to shift the ball onto his right foot to try and work a shot, but it seemed like City were prepared for it. AFP -
SUB: Anwar El Ghazi (Iwobi 88’) - On for Iwobi but not enough time to make an impact. AP Photo -
MAN CITY RATINGS: Ederson 6 - Saved well from Richarlison’s effort in the first half but didn’t really have much to deal with after the break as City pinned Everton deep into their box. Reuters -
Aymeric Laporte 6 - Kept things simple and defended well without any glaring mistakes. Reuters -
John Stones 7 - Assured playing out from the back as he returned to Goodison to face his former club. Came close to opening the scoring but saw his effort saved by Pickford. AFP -
Ruben Dias 7 - Rarely lost a challenge and didn’t give Everton’s forwards much to work with, with Richarlison only getting one notable opportunity. AFP -
Joao Cancelo 6 - Stretched the play well for City to create some opportunities and defended well against Everton’s final push after City had secured the lead. EPA -
Ilkay Gundogan 7 - Passed the ball with intent and transitioned it quickly to let City’s wingers create opportunities. Reuters -
Rodri 6 - Very fortunate to not give away a penalty with what looked to be a clear handball late in the game. Reuters -
Kevin De Bruyne 6 - A frustrating evening for the Belgian, who gave away the ball more than usual while his shot in the first half lacked venom. Unlucky with a strike that looked like it was going in. AFP -
Raheem Sterling 6 - Careless in possession at times and didn’t have any end product when on the ball. Eventually replaced. EPA -
Phil Foden 7 - Drew a save from a powerful shot but couldn’t direct it past his England compatriot Pickford. Reacted first to a mistake by Keane to open the scoring. EPA -
Bernardo Silva 6 - Will be wondering how he didn’t score when Pickford pushed out a strong arm to deny him from close range. AFP -
SUB: Riyad Mahrez (Gundogan 77’) - Added extra creativity to City’s attack and it eventually paid as Pep Guardiola’s side scored shortly after. Getty Images -
SUB: Gabriel Jesus (Sterling 77’) - Introduced for Sterling in the but was soon defending after City’s opener. EPA
“We are giving him all the support and I am sure he is feeling that. He's a new player here. So many things have happened to him, let alone coming to a new club and a new city and a new club.
Lampard also played for and managed Chelsea during Roman Abramovich’s time owning the club and the billionaire is now looking to sell as western countries take sanctions against Russian oligarchs because of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. “If you take as you find, I had absolute support in my time as a player and manager. I've got no comment on them now as Everton manager,” he said.
He had lunch with Everton’s new director of football Kevin Thelwell on Wednesday and has received an apology from Mike Riley, the referees’ chief, for VAR Christopher Kavanagh’s decision not to award Everton a penalty on Saturday when Rodri handled.
Now Everton face just the 10th non-league club since the Second World War to reach the last 16 of the FA Cup. After Boreham Wood, beat Bournemouth, Lampard sent a text to their manager, Luke Garrard.
“I watched the game against Bournemouth and thought it was a special evening,” he said. “The feeling of the fans and the players and the owner, I thought it was right to congratulate him and offer him an early warm welcome to Goodison. It is very important we treat them with the utmost respect. For any club in the league they are in to reach this far is an absolute achievement.”
