Conor Coady believes that the Everton players have to keep pushing themselves as well as each other as they battle to stay clear of the relegation zone.
Seamus Coleman scored the only goal against fellow strugglers Leeds United on Saturday which saw the Blues move clear of the relegation zone after Sean Dyche's side picked up consecutive home wins after taking over from Frank Lampard.
Since the 51-year-old's arrival, attitudes have changed at Goodison Park as the players look to steer out of the danger zone for a second successive season. Dyche has already stamped his mark on the squad with some of his fundamentals as the likes of snoods and hats are not permitted during training.
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"I think a lot of it is behind-closed-doors works that supporters don’t see on the training pitch," Coady detailed speaking in the official match programme for this weekend's Aston Villa match.
"We have to be pushing each other every single day on the training pitch — I think that’s where winners and losers are made.
"Training has to be competitive at all times, not to the point where you’re kicking lumps out of each other but in terms of being desperate to win, being desperate to contribute with a goal or an assist or a block or a tackle. That’s where it starts.
"If you have that every day in training then it becomes normal to carry that on at the weekend. That’s where we’re getting to.
"The gaffer helps with that competitiveness and there’s little forfeits in the sessions that you don’t want to be on the end of — nose flicks, ear flicks and all kinds!
"It’s up to us as players to take the responsibility to carry that through and we’re doing absolutely everything we can to ensure that is the case."
The on-loan Wolves defender also offered an insight into the relationship he has with defensive partner James Tarkowski. He arrived on Merseyside following his move from Burnley, having enjoyed his rise to prominence under the new Everton boss.
"I love him," he said. "He’s class... One of my best mates.
"I knew about Tarky before I came to the club — I’ve played against him loads of times before and I knew how much of a top player he is.
"I’ve had good battles against him in the past but now coming in and experiencing him every single day — the sort of character he is, the sort of friend he is, the sort of player he is… He’s huge for us. He’s a big part of the dressing room and I’ve grown close to him over the months we’ve been here. I think he’s brilliant in terms of what he brings and how he holds himself."
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