Facing Man City now is “very different”, says Sean Dyche as his Everton side will look to add further misery to the champions.
Facing Man City in their current predicament has changed the complexion of the fixture, says Everton manager Sean Dyche.
The Everton boss acknowledges that his team will have a difficult assignment on Boxing Day at the Etihad Stadium against a team of elite players and “one of the best-ever” managers in Pep Guardiola. However, following City’s run of nine losses in 12 games, he argues clubs are unlikely to be as terrified when visiting the Premier League winners of the previous four years. According to Dyche, such fall brings back memories of Manchester United’s loss of fear following Sir Alex Ferguson’s exit.
“You go there to win anyway but when the facts and stats start changing they add belief,” he said.
“That’s just the way sport works. If a team starts suffering a little bit then it adds belief to whoever is going there. Remember under Sir Alex when people went to Old Trafford? Even when they were down you would think they’d score in Fergie time. But once that started to break down a little bit people started to believe they could have a go. It’s not down to one team or one result, it’s down to that feel, and that is what changes. If we can capitalise on that then great, but it’s not that easy. They are still a top-class bunch of players.”
“The challenge of the Premier League means that sometimes it can even happen to the superpower clubs. That’s how powerful the Premier League is. Man City with their strength and depth and their amazing manager are still finding it tough against everyone. They haven’t done for years but they are now and that is because the Premier League is a powerful league. They are amazing at what they do but one or two injuries, one or two awkward results, and it suddenly looks and feels different.”
Following the Friedkin Group takeover, Dyche anticipates that a number of Everton contract matters, including his own, will be resolved before the season is up. In addition to Dyche and Kevin Thelwell, the director of football, having contracts expiring next summer, Everton has eight senior players in the last year of their contracts, including Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Idrissa Gueye, and Abdoulaye Doucouré.
“These guys need to come in and get a view on who they are working with,” Dyche said. “I don’t envisage them not doing anything until the end of the season, for me or players or anything. They are well aware we need to keep things going but, equally, I’m not expecting them to just one day say: ‘Here’s a 10-year contract.’ You have to earn the right. They will do their homework as well.”