Sean Dyche has urged Everton to quickly refocus after the "shock" of their "disproportionate" Premier League points deduction.
The Toffees have been plunged back into the relegation zone after having 10 points removed last week for breaches of the top-flight's profit and sustainability rules.
It is the largest such sanction ever delivered in Premier League history and was met with a stunned reaction from Everton, who said they were "shocked and disappointed" by what they called a "disproportionate and unjust" punishment that they will appeal.
Furious fans are planning protests this weekend as Everton return to action for the first time since the deduction, hosting Manchester United in front of the TV cameras on Sunday afternoon at what is sure to be an emotionally-charged Goodison Park.
"I think like everyone, certainly in these parts, I was shocked and seemingly from the wave of noise after that, most people in football are shocked by the enormity of it," Dyche told reporters at his pre-match press conference on Friday as he publicly addressed the deduction for the first time.
"Disproportionate is a word used by the club. Obviously we feel a bit aggrieved by that, but on the other hand it doesn't change the focus. The focus since I got there is sorting things out on the pitch, getting the team to win.
"I think we were on the right lines, delivering strong performances. This has just given us a push backwards to come forwards again. The job hasn't changed. It's just made it more difficult under the current circumstances until the appeal."
Dyche appeared to be on the same page as Everton's director of football Kevin Thelwell, who said earlier this week that the club would use the "unjust" ruling as "additional fuel" on the pitch moving forward.
The Toffees are now back in the familiar thick of a relegation battle sitting in 19th, off the foot of the table on goal difference only and two points adrift of safety with 12 matches played so far this season, having previously risen as high as 14th and eight points clear with a run of three wins from their last five league games.
Dyche, whose side are also into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, added: "I spoke to the group and said, 'look, the league table is one thing but I don't change my story very often and I believe the final league table is the truth of the season, and I'm not going to change now'.
"For sure, it changes the viewpoint but it doesn't change what we're doing. In fact it enhances what we're doing. We need to go harder, stronger. This is what it is. It's been about refocus as much as anything.
"The group have been very good in themselves. With the characters we've got - Seamus (Coleman) is a good voice, (Ashley) Young, 'Tarky' (James Tarkowski), Jordan (Pickford) and many others by the way - Gana (Idrissa Gueye) with his experience.
"All the senior boys particularly are rallying. It is what it is. Let's get on with it."
