Sean Dyche believes his Everton squad is now going beyond his original blueprint and taking responsibility for adopting his approach.
The Blues boss has repeatedly spoken of creating a “relentless mentality” since his appointment in late January. Michael Keane’s stunning last minute equaliser against Tottenham Hotspur followed Ellis Simms’ late leveller at Chelsea to suggest his side is now the embodiment of that attitude.
Speaking after Keane’s strike earned Everton a valuable point that moved the club out of the bottom three, Dyche said the improvement in his squad had gone beyond taking on his instructions to taking “ownership” of making sure they are put into practice.
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Asked how he felt at watching his side snatch another point in dramatic fashion, Dyche said: “I’m really pleased. I have spoken about adaptation over the period that I have been in here but it is going beyond that now. I mention the word ownership and they are beginning to own it now.
"As managers and coaches you can only lay down what you think is correct. It is then them taking ownership of it and responsibility for it and I think they are doing that.”
Everton had emerged from the break as the better side after a scrappy first 45 minutes. They looked more likely to go on and win the game before Abdoulaye Doucoure saw red for pushing Harry Kane in the face and Keane fouled Cristian Romero, allowing Kane to give his side the lead from the penalty spot. Dyche later said he had no complaint over either decision.
Of the fight back against that adversity, he added: “I think the group are growing all the time with that mentality and I think some of the quality, the physical quality of the group has improved - the way we are pressing, the way we are going after teams and also at 10 v 11, I thought some of the quality was very good. We are being more effective as a group and I am very, very pleased with that.”
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