Abdulayi Dukor opened his turbulent time during the reign of Frank Lampard in Everton, and revealed that their relationship had taken a sharp contraction, which led to his exclusion from the first team.
Lampard assumed the responsibility of Everton in January 2022, as he directed the club to survive in the Premier League in a dramatic way with a 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace, a match where Dukor was in the start squad.
However, despite the positive relationship at first, things quickly strained between the midfielder and his manager.
Thinking about his experience during the Lampard era, Dukur shared his frustration because of the lack of communication.
He said: “He did not speak, there was no contact between me and him.” “I was training with Under-21 because I was excluded from the team, pushed me away.
After a home match, we had a great argument between me and him. I was not happy and told him the truth because I was honest, and he did not like it. The next day to say that you could not stay with the team, he felt not respectful by me in front of other players, and they said that you need to train with less than 21 years or training on their own.
“He respected me – Everton was a big lesson, and you know that!” 😬
Abdel -Alam Dukur on his time working under Frank Lampard 🗣 pic.twitter.com/tz8vano1lz
Wearetheverlap February 10, 2025
I said, “I will train on my own,” because I know how to take care of myself. Fortunately, it wasn’t long, two or three days, because I think it was sacked a week.
During the Lampard period, which lasted 44 games, Dukor was rarely given a role at the beginning. In contrast, in the shadow of my managers like Carlo Ancelotti, Sean Desy, and now David Moyes, he was a major player.
“Frank Lampard is the only manager who did not trust me much. I think he made a mistake with me to be honest. I am a man who works hard and a modest person, working hard in training. It is clear that he can choose, and I never fail to choose the manager.
“Sometimes you should be fair and do not think it was fair with me, and left me on the bench for many games and not giving me my chance, it bothered me. I was just waiting for my chance and did not trust me, and I think he made a mistake because I proved that he was wrong after that. Because after the new manager, Sean Dicch, I was a difference in the team.
“It was very difficult because I love Everton, and because of my relationship with him, I was going out away, I was almost outside the club. So it was very sad for me, because when you start exploring your options, go to another club – I never wanted to do so. My faith Very strong, and I always believe in hard work, and hard work.
Since leaving Everton, Lampard has taken over the director of the Coventry City and has witnessed improvements in the team’s results. Dukor believes that his former manager took important lessons from his time in Jadison Park.
“He was a great player, and he was a great player, and everyone knew it. But as a manager, Everton had a great lesson for him, and I think he learned from that.”