Abdoulaye Doucoure has publicly criticized Frank Lampard’s management during their time together at Everton, revealing a significant falling out that led to the midfielder’s exclusion from the first team.
In a candid interview with The Overlap Breakdown, Doucoure detailed the breakdown of their relationship, which ultimately resulted in him training with the Under-21s.
Lampard, who took the helm at Everton in January 2022, initially enjoyed a positive relationship with Doucoure.
The Mali international was a key figure in the team that narrowly avoided relegation that season, culminating in a dramatic 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace.
However, their relationship soured the following season, leading to Doucoure’s marginalization.
“He didn’t talk, there was no communication between me and him,” Doucoure explained. “I was training with the Under-21 because I was excluded from the team, he pushed me away.”
Doucoure revealed that a heated exchange after a home game triggered his banishment.
“After a home game, we had a big argument between me and him. I was not happy and I told him the truth because I am honest, and he didn’t like it. The day after they said you cannot stay with the team, he felt disrespected by me in front of the other players, and they said you need to train with the Under-21s or train alone.”
Choosing to train individually, Doucoure’s exile lasted only a few days, coinciding with Lampard’s subsequent dismissal.
“I said, ‘I’m going to train alone’ because I know how to look after myself. Luckily it was not long, two or three days, because I think he was sacked a week after.”
Under Lampard’s successors, Sean Dyche and later David Moyes, Doucoure regained his prominent role in the team, reminiscent of his contributions under Carlo Ancelotti.
This resurgence underscores Doucoure’s belief that Lampard had misjudged him.
“Frank Lampard is the only manager who didn’t trust me a lot. I think he made a mistake with me to be honest. I am a hard-working guy and a humble person, I work hard in training. Obviously he can make a choice, I never contest the choice a manager makes. Sometimes you have to be fair and I don’t think he was fair with me, leaving me on the bench for so many games and not giving me my chance, it just upset me with him. I was just waiting for my chance and he didn’t trust me, and I think he made a mistake because I just proved him wrong after that. Because after the new manager came, Sean Dyche, I was a difference-maker in the team.”
The 32-year-old described this period as the most challenging of his career.
“It was very hard because I love Everton, and because of my relationship with him I was pushing away, I was nearly out of the club. So it was very sad for me, because when you start exploring your options, going to another club – I never wanted that. My faith is very strong, I always believe in hard work, hard work pays off. I was very happy to stay, and I signed a new contract after that.”
Now managing Coventry City, Lampard has overseen a turnaround in the club’s fortunes since his November appointment. Doucoure believes his former manager learned valuable lessons from his time at Goodison Park.
“He was a great player, he was a fantastic player, everyone knows that. But as a manager, at Everton it was a big lesson for him, and I think he learned from that.”
