Abdoulaye Doucoure Criticizes Frank Lampard Treatment at Everton

Abdoulaye Doucoure criticized Frank Lampard’s treatment of him at Everton, calling it a mistake. The 32-year-old midfielder was dropped from the squad and forced to train alone before Lampard was sacked in January 2023. Doucoure played 28 games under Lampard but was recalled by Sean Dyche, scoring the goal that secured Everton Premier League survival. Lampard, who won only 12 of 44 matches at Everton, later managed Chelsea briefly and now coaches Coventry City. Doucoure has made 154 appearances and scored 19 goals since joining Everton in 2020.

In the latest revelations to The Overlap, Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure has criticized former manager Frank Lampard’s handling of him during his tenure at Goodison Park. Lampard, who managed Everton for just under a year before being sacked in January 2023, benched Doucoure in his final two matches and instructed him to train with the under-21s or alone. Doucoure, now 32, believes Lampard "made a mistake" by sidelining him, despite his strong work ethic.

Following Lampard’s dismissal, new manager Sean Dyche reinstated Doucoure immediately, and he played a key role in Everton’s survival. In Dyche’s first game, a 1-0 win against Arsenal, Doucoure was a standout performer. He went on to feature in 15 of the final 18 matches that season, scoring the crucial goal on the final day that secured Everton’s Premier League status.

During his time at Everton, Doucoure has made 154 appearances and scored 19 goals since joining in 2020. Under Lampard, he played 28 matches before being dropped. Lampard, who won just 12 of his 44 games in charge, later had a short caretaker stint at Chelsea before taking over at Coventry City in November 2024 on a contract until 2027.