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Dyche: Magic day but it mustn't happen to Everton again

28 May 2023

Toffees manager relieved at avoiding relegation but says a 'big club' must do better in future

Sean Dyche praised the mentality of his Everton team after they beat AFC Bournemouth to guarantee another season in the Premier League.

Everton needed a win to stay up and send down Leicester City and Leeds United and Abdoulaye Doucoure delivered the only goal to bring elation at Goodison Park.

Dyche is keen that such scenes should be avoided in the future and the players should use the strengths that kept them up to deliver better results in the future.

EVE

1-0

BOU

"It means a lot to me,” Dyche told Sky Sports. “I've just told the players we can't be in this state. A magic day but at the end of the day we shouldn't be in this shape.

“We have done well as staff and kept that belief. The mentality has been terrific.

"You are only a big club if you are doing big things. It is one and we need to get it back to being one.

"It's about the belief of the group. In the dying embers of the game we found the moments. We obviously want to do better but you still need to have that belief like we had today.

"There's a hell of a lot to be done here still, I can assure you of that"

Sean Dyche

"I came in here and everyone said it was broken. We have changed some things and enough that kept us in the Premier League. It means a lot to me as a manager and for the players. We capitalised on a big moment and didn't make mistakes.

"We found a way to see it through and got enough points this season but there's a hell of a lot to be done here still, I can assure you of that.

"It's a horrible game for all concerned at Everton but it's fantastic when you come through it and get things done.

"I came here as the man to do the job. I knew there was a heavy risk but I'm pleased we got it done. We have found ways of winning games and getting points so that's a good base to build on, but it does need building on."

Position Pos	Club	Played Pl	GD	Points Pts
17	Everton EVE	38	-23	36
18	Leicester City LEI	38	-17	34
19	Leeds United LEE	38	-30	31
20	Southampton SOU	38	-37	25

Doucoure struck a similar tone to his manager. “It was a huge game for us,” he told BBC Sport. “We are so happy. It's hard to describe our feeling. We fought all season to compete and save the club. This afternoon we gave everything. It was not our best game but we gave everything and got the result.

"I'm always going for the second ball. I knew I had to strike it as hard as possible and hit the target. Thank god it went in. It was an amazing feeling."

At half-time at Goodison, Everton were drawing 0-0 and were set to go down as Leicester were beating West Ham United and would be in 17th place.

"We weren't really aware until we came inside at half-time,” Everton defender Conor Coady said. “We needed to stay in the game. There was loads of pressure.

"It's just an overwhelming relief.”