Vitalii Mykolenko has called on his Everton side to use Monday’s win over Brighton & Hove Albion as a platform to ensure they are playing Premier League football next season.
Everton produced a superb display of counter-attacking football to climb out of the Premier League relegation places. Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dwight McNeil both scored braces in a dominant 5-1 win at the Amex.
Many Blues fans travelled down to the south coast more in hope than expectation on the back of a seven-game run without a win. However, they head to Goodison Park for Sunday's showdown with Manchester City with a renewed sense of optimism.
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"We delivered through the difficult moments and played really well," Mykolenko replied when asked about Monday's win in a Q&A with evertonfc.com.
"We followed our manager’s instructions and implemented his game plan successfully. The win gave us plenty of confidence going into this weekend.
"The important thing is using Monday’s win as a platform to get enough points to stay in the Premier League. If we have a fight, I am sure we will deliver the results we need to achieve our objective."
Asked specifically about taking on Pep Guardiola's table-topping side, Mykolenko said: "We just need to take the challenge head-on. We know Manchester City are a very strong team, perhaps the best in the world right now. But we feel confident. We’re at home, and our fans will get right behind us."
Blues boss Sean Dyche replaced Frank Lampard as Everton manager in January. Lampard’s sacking came following a dismal run of results.
Dyche won two of his first three matches in charge, but prior to Monday’s win, Everton had only won one of their past 11 outings leaving them in grave danger of tumbling through the trapdoor to the Championship.
But despite Dyche’s tough start to life at Goodison, Mykolenko has revealed he has enjoyed the discipline the manager has brought to the club and believes the former Burnley chief will improve him as a player.
He said: "It was a fresh start for us all when he arrived. The gaffer loves discipline, and I’ve always said that this is something I hold extremely important, too.
"Discipline for a defender is number one, in my opinion. You need to be consistent, and you need to be concentrating on every moment of the game.
"Discipline is important across the pitch, though, not just in defence. I know he can make me better, for sure. He has different ideas, and you can always learn things from a new manager, like I am doing now. I get a good feeling."
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