Everton: Sean Dyche makes ‘tough’ admission as talks held with Goodison Park chiefs
Sean Dyche has opened up on the talks held with Everton chiefs to organise their warm-weather training camp amid a “tough” admission.
With no Premier League fixture for another three weeks, Everton’s players and coaching staff jetted out to Portugal on Monday (11 March).
The Toffees will return to Merseyside in a couple of days’ time, before many players then head off for international duty.
Speaking to Everton’s website [12 March] about the trip, Dyche said: “I think the first benefit is a bit of refreshing – not a physical refresh, because I think the stats are good on the team and the performances and the training schedule.
“With the three weeks now, it’s a tough ask to just keep going in and out of Finch Farm with no outcome. There’s nothing at the end of those weeks, whereas the players are used to having that cycle of preparing, getting ready, tuning in and playing.
“We went to the club and said we think it’d be a good idea and they backed us and supported us to give the lads, like I say, not so much a physical break because they’ll be working out here.
“They’ll get a bit of down time because I think that’s important, but it’s about finding that balance to make sure they’ve got that edge about them going into the last 10 games.”
Everton still have Luton Town to face in relegation scrap
This mini break could do Everton’s players a world of good. Results have not been very good for a while now and this can act as a reset of sorts.
When you also factor in all the off-the-field developments in recent months, it is nice to simply get away and focus solely on training.
Everton will have 10 games remaining by the time they resume their campaign, starting with a winnable trip to Bournemouth.
When you also factor in games against Burnley, Luton Town and Sheffield United, this really is going to be a crunch period for the club.
If Dyche is to prioritise one area on the training fields in Portugal this week, it has to be his side’s ability to put the ball in the back of the net.
Fingers crossed that once that Bournemouth game comes around, every player is fully fit and raring to go.
In other Everton news, Rio Ferdinand has shared the one thing the Toffees badly lacked in the loss to Manchester United.
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