Abdoulaye Doucoure has revealed he still doesn't understand why he was frozen out by Frank Lampard and hailed the appointment of Sean Dyche.
Doucoure was told to train on his own in the final week of Lampard’s tenure as manager and was overlooked for a 2-0 defeat by West Ham United at the London Stadium following a dressing-room row.
The midfielder, it is claimed, stood up for his team-mate Idrissa Gana Gueye, who was at the centre of a heated confrontation with Lampard after the 2-1 loss to Southampton. However, while Doucoure was frozen out, Gueye would play the full 90 minutes against David Moyes’ side.
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But just two days after the defeat in the capital, Lampard was sacked by majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri and replaced by Sean Dyche. Under the former Burnley boss, the Mali international has been rejuvenated and has played a key role in helping preserve the club’s top-flight status.
Ahead of the game against Gary O’Neil’s side, Everton activated the option to extend Doucoure’s contract until the end of next season.
Reflecting on his campaign and contract extension, Doucoure said: "I was out of the picture, and I was not even on the bench. It was hard for me, but I have a strong mentality, and I will always fight hard for this club.
"I think this season was a little bit hard for me because, like I said before, it was the first time I didn’t have time to play and I didn’t understand why.
"When the manager came in, it was the best decision for Everton Football Club, and I am happy to get more years here."
After Barry Horne in 1994 and Gareth Farrelly four years later, it was Doucoure who this time wrote his name into the Everton history books with a goal that extended his club’s residence in the top-flight of English football into its 70th year.
"To be honest, when you are in this position, you need to shoot, and it was a perfect position for me to shoot, and thank God it went in, it was on target, and it gave us the three points," he said on his goal.
"It was incredible. I think about all the season, all my personal life, everything. Everyone knows I have had a difficult season; it was high and low, but I finished on the high so very happy.
"Very happy for the club and the fans, they give everything this year to support us, so they deserve that."
Before he added: "We have to celebrate because obviously I score a goal. I am happy to score a goal. I always love to score goals and this one was massive.
"The season was tough, especially the last three weeks was very tense. We need to enjoy now and to rest but to come back stronger."
Dyche's side relied on those few who have served them so superbly through the struggles right to the end, particularly goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who saved from Dominic Solanke and Matias Vina.
"Everyone make themselves part of it, Jordan [Pickford] is a big part of it," Doucoure said of his team-mate. "He's England's number one. It is not for nothing. He is a great goalkeeper.
"All the season, you have [James] Tarkowski, [Dwight] McNeil, they play their part. [Idrissa] Gueye was terrific today, he gave me a lot of energy, so I thanked him at the end of the game.
"So happy for everyone, and for Seamus [Coleman] as well. Unlucky he was injured, but he gave us all his support through the week. We are happy we make it over the line."
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