Soccer-Dyche hopes to be Everton’s ‘heartbeat’ to pull club out of relegation zone
(Reuters) – New Everton boss Sean Dyche said he may not have gotten the job at the best of times but vowed to give it his all as the Premier League club seek to avoid relegation from the top flight for the first time in 72 years.
Former Burnley boss Dyche was appointed manager of Everton on Monday after the Merseyside club sacked Frank Lampard following a 10-game losing streak dating back to October.
Everton are 19th in the league, above Southampton on goal difference, but they are just two points from the safety zone and Dyche said he and the team have a desire to turn things around.
“Behind the noise outside, it’s a fantastic football club that means a lot to its fans. The history, the feel – maybe if it wasn’t in the state it was in, maybe I wouldn’t get the chance, but I don’t mind,” Dyche said.
“If they feel my skills are good enough to deliver it, I will. I played for a long time, I’m a goalkeeper at the football club, I’m not going to stay here forever, I said about Burnley.
“When I’m here I’ll protect him, I’ll make sure he has all the means to succeed. A heartbeat for this club is important and I have a big heart, it’s not a bad start.
But his first test on Saturday couldn’t be more important as Everton host league leaders Arsenal, who have lost just once this season.
“Good side, obviously people are talking about (Arsenal) winning the title,” said Dyche, who has beaten the north London side just once in 15 games for Burnley.
“They are having a great time. They’ve known us long enough, they’ll realize we’re up for the challenge. They will not underestimate the strength of our challenge.
‘WIN IT ALL SOLVE’
Dyche said there was no “magic dust” to get back to winning ways, but the hope of picking up three points again would prove to be the catalyst for the club to climb up the table.
“Winnings are wonderful things in football, they seem to solve everything and it’s much better when you win but you have to earn it. Nobody gives it to you,” he added.
“You don’t want to bet on luck, you want good performance, pride, passion and then a layer on tactical understanding.”
Everton failed to sign a single player in the January transfer window and failed to replace winger Anthony Gordon, who signed for Newcastle United in a £45m deal (55 millions of dollars).
But Dyche said he was happy with the squad and would not sign any new signings for transfer reasons.
“Since I arrived on Saturday, I have seen nothing but hard work. I’m leaving here late at night, the president was constantly on the phone. The thing is, they have to be better than the players here,” Dyche said.
“There are very talented players here. Our job is to guide them to better days and tweak them a bit, maybe a different way of looking at the game and give them the freedom to play.
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(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)