Sean Dyche acknowledges Everton’s away support during the 4-0 defeat at Manchester United.Photograph: Molly Darlington/Reuters
Sean Dyche said he is working harder than at any point in his managerial career to correct Everton’s season but has made mistakes in the search for a winning formula.
The manager is in desperate need of victory over Wolves on Wednesday after only two league wins all season, no goals in the past four matches and fixtures against Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City to follow. He was left to lament an error-strewn performance in the 4-0 defeat at Manchester United on Sunday, but admits his players are not the only ones responsible for lapses this term.
“We’ve made errors for sure, I’ve made errors this season and the team have made errors,” Dyche said. “And we haven’t killed teams off when we’ve been in a position to do so. It’s a fact of life as a manager you have to get the fine margins right, and we haven’t so far this season.
“The errors I’ve made are tactical, picking the right team to see if you can find a different way. There’s so much work being done here, so many good things have been done, but I don’t even have to think that makes it all right. You’ve got to win games, and we haven’t won enough this season.”
Discontent is rising among Everton fans and a proposed takeover by the Friedkin Group, which is near completion, increases the pressure on Dyche to deliver results.
“Winning games is the glue that holds a fanbase together,” he said. “If you’re not winning, then dying for the cause, putting sweat on the shirt and believing in the badge is a big part of it. I certainly do that. Me, my staff and the players, sometimes we haven’t done it as well as we could do, but we work tirelessly, I can assure you. This is the most work I’ve done in all my years of management at this football club, without a shadow of a doubt.”
Dyche dropped Dominic Calvert-Lewin at Old Trafford and believes the out-of-form striker “has got more to offer”.