The Premier League relegation battle has come down to the final week of the season and another few twists and turn are guaranteed in the last few games. Leeds United, Everton and Burnley are the three teams scrapping it out to avoid being the third team that will drop into the Championship.
As far as weekends go, it was a pretty productive one for Leeds as they made ground on both of their relegation rivals. Results on Sunday ensured that Jesse Marsch’s side moved out of the bottom three and within a point of the Toffees.
Although, both of the teams competing with the Whites have a game-in-hand coming up on Thursday evening. Dependent how they get on in those games will have a huge bearing on the state of play on the final day of the season.
Read more: What Leeds United need to happen to ensure Premier League survival following Brighton draw
Frank Lampard and Mike Jackson were both unhappy with decisions that went against them in their respective defeats and, along with Marsch, delivered their verdicts on the ongoing battle at the bottom. Here is what the trio of managers said after Sunday’s action.
Jesse Marsch
Speaking in his post-match press conference, the American touched on how important it was to ensure they are still in the battle on the last day. He said: “We’re alive now regardless for the last day. We have to fight for every point and any point gets us a little bit closer and shifts a little bit of the momentum.
“We know Burnley has a match in hand and we know Everton now has two matches in hand with three left. We need some help and we need to be ready next weekend to do whatever it takes.”
He then moved onto what the message will be heading to Brentford on Sunday: “We’ll all watch that match [Burnley’s game-in-hand] but the message will be we have to recover mentally and physically and we’ll put together a match plan that we think can go down to Brentford and have success.
“We have to do everything we can and invest everything we can in every way to make sure we’re ready for that.”
Frank Lampard
The decisions throughout Everton’s defeat to Brentford dominated much of the post-match talk. However, when speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Lampard emphasised that his side’s fate is still very much in their own hands.
"It's mental and physical. It's in our hands so we want to take stock tonight,” he claimed
“If we win on Thursday then we are in the Premier League next year. I have belief in these players and these fans that they will turn up with the same attitude that they did today."
Mike Jackson
Despite watching his side fall to defeat at Tottenham, Jackson was impressed by what he saw from his players. Harry Kane’s first-half penalty was the only difference between the two teams, giving Burnley hope ahead of a huge week.
"I have seen a lot of positives today,” the interim boss told BBC Radio 5 Live. “We came with a plan and we executed that well apart from a decision. I'm really proud of the group - I saw that fighting spirit and character. They didn't get overawed by the atmosphere or the situation.”
Jackson also looked forward to the next two games after the defeat in North London. He added: “We've scored quite a few recently and on another day - Maxwel Cornet went through and a bit more quality with the final ball - we might have come away with more chances and something from the game today.
"We know what's in front of us and we only need to get points from them. It is very simple - if you try and mask it as something else then you're not being real.
“It is about trying to win the next game - we won't be looking past that. I enjoy being in these situations because it keeps you alive and keeps you going. I'll keep going, fighting and attacking anything I can. We haven't spoke about my future at all."
