Sean Dyche today launched an impassioned defense of his spell at Everton and suggested the club are in a better position than when he arrived.
The Toffees are winless in four games in which they have scored just one goal and lost 2-0 at home to Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Daiichi has received criticism from fans for his harsh playing style, but the 53-year-old noted that he has had to deal with many off-field issues since his appointment two years ago.
One of those moments was a long period of uncertainty when Farhad Moshiri tried to sell the club. Friedkin's group completed the purchase just before Christmas, sparking speculation that Dyche could be axed.
Daichi speaks for himself
However, the former Burnley boss believes his achievements at Goodison Park should be highlighted.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's trip to Bournemouth, he said: “I think there has been an improvement from a lot of the players here. My job here has been endless but nobody really cares – they're just bothered about 'go and win a mate'. I've said that all along.” Time, we've saved hundreds of millions of pounds, wages, reduced squad size, and all the rest of it – it's irrelevant – it's just 'go win the game'.
“I know the work we did here. I know the work we did financially. I know the work we did with the players, the players here are worth 10 times what they were when we got here, so there is an improvement. The only improvement that the fans, the media and everyone cares about is, Including myself to some extent, it is winning games.
“Some managers have the luxury of walking away and saying: 'Your job is just to focus on the team and that's it because everything else falls into place.' Clearly he wasn't here and he still isn't. There are miles to go, there is endless work to go here.” .
“It depends on how you measure it. If you measure it just based on winning games, we need to do better, and I need to do better. If you measure it on the whole job, then I'm very happy.”
January is a difficult month to do business
Daiichi played down the idea that the arrival of new owners automatically means Everton will be active in the January transfer window.
“I've been doing this for a long time, and January is known to be a very difficult month because you never know,” he added.
“I'm not saying no but it's very difficult. Forgetting the numbers, usually if big deals happen, they often pay a lot of money for those big deals to happen.
Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been linked with a move to Atalanta but Daiche says the Serie A leaders have not made contact.
He added: “No, there was no contact from anyone.” “There are bound to be rumours, that's what they are.
“I think we would think about it if that happened, but since there is no contact, there is no need to discuss.”
The quartet is still absent
Everton is visiting Bournemouth in 16th place in the English Premier League, two points behind Ipswich, who is in last place in the relegation zone.
They will still be without Tim Irogbunam, James Garner, Dwight McNeil and Seamus Coleman at Vitality Stadium.
◀️ Fitness updates from Sean Dyche ahead of this weekend's trip to Bournemouth. pic.twitter.com/8zUchLXuGh
– Everton (@Everton) January 2, 2025
“Tim Irogbunam and James Garner are back on the turf, but the sports science team is not ready for us yet,” Dyke said. “There is still a little time left for them but they are making progress.
“I doubt Dwight McNeil will be ready at the weekend, it's settled but getting to that final moment where he can rejoin is a little trickier than we thought.
“Seamus is not ready. There is nothing too serious, but he is not ready for this.”
