Sean Dyche not worried about style in battle for Premier League survival
- Planet Sport writer
- 14 April 2024
Everton manager Sean Dyche isn't concerned about the aesthetics of his side's football as they need every point available to secure their Premier League status for next season.
A further deduction of two points, taking their penalty for the season for breaching financial rules to eight, this week means they are right back in the dogfight for survival.
It also makes last weekend’s victory over 19th-placed Burnley look even more important, with Everton scrapping to defeat Dyche’s former club 1-0.
Dyche has been left cursing a failure to turn chances into goals this season, and the Toffees boss will be content to favour substance over style if it can see them over the line.
“We had to find a way to win and that’ll be the next seven games, finding a way to win,” said Dyche.
“We’d made a lot of ground in the way that we were playing, the way we were trying to win games, but we couldn’t find that win. We had to change it. The players delivered a very fair-minded performance, all noses pointing in the right direction, change of style and play to win a game.
“That might be needed the next game and the one after, we’ll see, but the players are motivated without a doubt.”
On Monday, Everton head to London to take on Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea, who the Toffees defeated 2-0 at home in December and who have failed to beat both Burnley and Sheffield United in recent weeks.
But they have not lost in their last seven league games, and Dyche said: “Mauricio is someone I’ve always had respect for, always liked the work that he puts in.
“Obviously a topsy-turvy style season by their standards, a lot of changes there, a lot of changes in culture I’m sure from the way he works. We delivered a good performance (in December) but that doesn’t guarantee the next one.
“They’re a good outfit, they’ve spent a lot of money over the last few years, which everyone knows, and they have some quality without doubt so we’ve got to make sure we deliver.
“I believe in the side, I believe that we’ve been playing well, I believe over a season it pays you back. We’ve got to continue the daily work and put it into practice when the whistle blows.”
