Pep Guardiola pays great tribute to Sean Dyche and Everton ‘best team in the Premier League’
Pep Guardiola praised the effort and application of Everton after yesterday’s victory for Manchester City at Goodison Park, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
The Manchester City boss clearly stated that the Toffees are a different proposition under the former Burnley chief, highlighting the team’s proficiency at set-pieces when he stated, “they are the best team in the Premier League since Sean Dyche’s appointment”.
The final two fixtures of the season for Everton in their quest to avoid relegation to the Championship, come away to Wolves and home to Bournemouth, respectively.
Despite the convincing win for City, there was enough evidence to suggest that Dyche is on course to lead his side to safety, as long as their momentum continues. That sentiment was echoed by the Spanish coach.
“It’s tricky playing away at Everton in between Champions League games,” he said.
“I was particularly impressed with how they handled the game against Brighton but from the first minute, we controlled the game except in transitions.
“If you let them run with Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin, it’s so difficult and (from) every corner and free-kick, they are the best team in the Premier League since Sean Dyche’s appointment.
“There’s always the chance of a goal and you can suffer, like when Arsenal lost here from one corner.”
All that matters
It is a nice compliment to receive from Guardiola and one that Dyche will politely acknowledge but at this business end of the season, all he will be truly interested in is the hard currency of points.
That is all that matters in the aim to stay in the Premier League, to progress on and off the pitch in the months ahead.
Everton could do with a nice little favour from Liverpool tonight when the Reds go to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester City.
If Jurgen Klopp’s men secure three points, the result will at least be met with a muted sense of joy for the Evertonians as it means their fate is in their own hands over the last two games.
As it stands, the Toffees are in 17th place on 32 points with the Foxes one point behind in 18th, prior to their game in hand, this evening.