The fans have grievances. You cannot ask them to not have an opinion when you ask them to love a club so much.
The assignment was clear when Frank Lampard took over. It would suffice to retain the status ofEverton in the premier league.
The long-term rebuild of the club had to be put on hold.
As one of the founding members of the league, it was almost certain that the Toffees would stay in the division. Their future is uncertain.
The season in August of 2022/23 could still see the Toffees playing Championship football. Their chances of remaining in the top flight have been greatly improved by the stewardship of Lampard.
In early April, the dice with danger was much more stark after a 3-2 loss to the other side of the coin. Since then, fortunes have favored the side of Lampard.
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A pick-up in form has arrived just at the right time, the club has continued to rally around the manager, and other teams in the fight for survival are faltering under the pressure.
The job is not complete, but it is clear that the influence of Lampard is having a positive effect on the situation.
In their last six league ties, they have taken as many points as they did in their previous 22.
It is a step forward because it looked different going into the Chelsea game.
I think it has been a good response from that tough moment. Fans and players have reacted to each other on the field.
We picked up seven points in the three most recent games. We are in a decent place despite being slightly disappointed. The situation can flip very quickly if we don't guard against it.
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We know we are in the critical phase of the season. We have to cut out all the noise. I have to listen to the noise, but the players can cut it out and show up on Sunday ready to perform. Two games at Goodison is a good thing for us.
The team is starting to give back to their fans for their support. The danger of this season has drawn people closer to their club.
Fans have adorned the street outside Finch Farm to wave the bus off ahead of important games, while the atmosphere at Goodison Park has been electric.
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The gravity of the situation has caused unity. When asked if the fans played a role in the recent upturn in results, he said he was aware of the club's history.
It was a difficult place to play as a player. I was aware that this is a region where football is popular.
I understood that. It has been extraordinary to feel it first hand. The support of the fans has made a huge difference. It ends you to the club and makes you want to stay. It drags you in and you want to do it for them.
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The feeling of tension easing can be fleeting. In their last four home games, they have scored one goal in all of them, but any misconception of safety would be premature.
A twist in the tale is bound to arise at some point, as fans of a particular generation will remember the great escape of 1994 when they were able to stave off the danger of being demoted.
Prior to this season, the club has been more focused on breaking the top four, than on avoiding the bottom three, but history shows that in the past they have flirted with the idea of being demoted.
From my experience, this is the most intense pressure you can get as a manager. I have played in and around the top end, but the threat of being demoted to the Championship is a huge deal.
What it means to the club, to the fans, to the people who work at the club, and to the people who care about the club. You feel the responsibility as the manager.
The fans have grievances. You cannot ask them to not have an opinion when you ask them to love a club so much. They can have a positive impact on us. It helps the players.
The team has grown in a short time with the support. We hope we can keep that together. If we can keep that together, it shows how strong we are.
I am happy to hear that the fans want the team to play. You have to give the fans a team that they want to support and that is a reflection of how they feel.
Everton is a club that demands passion, drive, sprints, tackles and fighting for the badge. We have to deliver that.
The results on the pitch have changed for the better. Playing with three centre-halves has offered a solidity that was previously lacking. They have only conceded one goal in their previous four home games - a Harvey Barnes strike in a draw withLeicester. The first four games of the season have been for the first time since the beginning of the year.
It is a far cry from the destitution felt at Turf Moor in April, when a rejuvenated Clarets scored three times in the second half to beat the Toffees.
When asked if he thought it was possible for the club to get out of the danger zone with games to spare, he said it was not possible. It felt like a game we were in control of, and it turned on us, which can bring a momentum swing if you are not careful.
It is thanks to everyone that we are in this position now. It was a tough night.
The players have found a growth in their confidence. I came into the club because of some difficult results.
We have been working against that and developing the team's confidence. When you arrive in mid-season, you have to learn quickly about your players.
Is the possession-based philosophy abandoned in favor of a needs must approach? Defensively, it seems to be working, with three clean sheets in the last four at Goodison andEverton reduced to zero shots on target, but debate has risen over their potency at the opposite end of the pitch.
We've found a way recently to win games - it's not perfection. We're not having possession like I really want, but we've shown an incredible spirit, togetherness and discipline, in terms of how we approach games and it's got us results.
We've found a way to win recently, but it isn&t perfect.
There are things you have to compromise on as a coach. There are different attributes in different areas of the pitch. We lost the Man City game because of a bad decision, in my opinion, when I was here. When we need to be pragmatic, we have always been.
Consistency in the game plan has helped the players. It heightens the tension when you are in a battle for survival. It's important to break the game down and play more simply to get the results you need. Not overcomplicating things.
The former Derby and Chelsea boss isn't shy about tackling the tougher subject matter. Despite the progress made since February, he was happy to reflect on the magnitude of the task that remains, despite the 4-1 FA Cup victory over Brentford.
If I were honest, I came to a club where there was a slight discrepancy. It was nice to be honest about how I saw it.
Hopefully fans have seen that in me. I care a lot. I invest in what I do because I work hard. I think that is the first thing they will see from you.
The extra bit is how you can get the team to play. That helps. Results in the end will define you.
I like to do well to make the fans happy and that makes me a better coach. I wouldn't have taken on the challenge of coming toEverton if it weren't for the challenge.
I was proud to take this role, but you know the pressure that comes with it. I enjoy the challenge and it has been one. I feel like I am a coach that is learning every day.
The 43-year-old summed up his feelings towards the fans before leaving. There was a show of appreciation from travelling supporters inside King Power Stadium last weekend, who witnessed a critical 2-1 victory over the Foxes.
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The fans who made the trip were thanked, but not so much as to soak up the adulation. A community that may well erupt inside Goodison on Sunday if victory over Brentford guarantees the survival of the league, is a display of gratitude and respect for a community that has served as the heart of the revival of the club.
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I was very thankful to be on the pitch at the end of the game because not every manager gets to do that. That is not normal. It is not normal for fans to stay for 20 minutes after the final whistle.
I feel privileged to be a part of that and my part of the bargain is to work as hard as I can to deliver success.
The fans and the players are very close to each other. We cannot take that for granted. They will expect us to stay in the league and get better over the summer. It feels good for club togetherness, but we need to drive that forward.
After explaining passionately about the impact of supporters, he finished by giving his assessment of Jordan Pickford. The England international has conceded four goals from an xG against of 7.35 since early April, and his 3.35 differential is higher than any other goalkeeper in the league.
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He is an important member of the squad. He is a huge player and you need him to deliver. Every top team I have ever known has a great goalkeeper because they deliver in big moments. He has won us points. I work with a keeper of that level.
He is delivering at a level that an England No.1 would. You have seen the faith in him that makes him a better goalkeeper for us.
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