'Nobody knows' - Frank Lampard opens up on what he encountered on taking Everton job

Frank Lampard said he welcomed the opportunity to now reflect on his time at Everton so he can plot how to improve the club's performances next season.

Lampard took over at Goodison Park in January when the Blues were 16th in the Premier League table. Defeat at Arsenal on the final day meant that was also their final league position, but in getting there the new Everton manager halted a dramatic downturn in confidence and form and has been credited with unifying players and supporters in a manner that prevented the slump from ending in relegation.

Throughout his short reign Lampard has battled with illness and injuries to players, particularly his centre-backs. Six changes were made to the starting line up at the Emirates after the squad was depleted by further knocks and exhaustion following Thursday's survival-clinching win over Crystal Palace and a run of five games in 14 days that ended in north London.

Such was the necessity of the changes - and emotional and physical toll of the relegation battle - Lampard said he would not look too deeply into a 5-1 defeat that included three goals conceded from corners. Instead, he said it was more important to now reflect on his three-and-a-half months at Everton rather than the final 90 minutes of the campaign.

Asked what his initial thoughts were on his time with the Blues, Lampard said: "My immediate feeling is absolute delight and relief that we kept the club in the league. Nobody knows on the outside - and I'm not sitting here to make a big case for the situation we were in - but confidence was low, the form was low and in a direction that would have taken us down in terms of results.

"Injuries have been bad throughout and that stayed - in the first week I lost two big