Sean Dyche believes Manchester City’s dramatic slump has changed “the feel” around the Premier League champions and given their opponents more belief.
The Everton manager accepts his team face a considerable task at the Etihad Stadium on Boxing Day against “one of the best-ever” managers in Pep Guardiola and a squad of world-class talent. But he says teams are unlikely to be as intimidated when visiting the Premier League champions of the past four years after City’s run of nine defeats in 12 games. That collapse, Dyche claimed, evokes memories of Manchester United losing the fear factor after Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.
“You go there to win anyway but when the facts and stats start changing they add belief,” he said.
“That’s just the way sport works. If a team starts suffering a little bit then it adds belief to whoever is going there. Remember under Sir Alex when people went to Old Trafford? Even when they were down you would think they’d score in Fergie time. But once that started to break down a little bit people started to believe they could have a go. It’s not down to one team or one result, it’s down to that feel, and that is what changes. If we can capitalise on that then great, but it’s not that easy. They are still a top-class bunch of players.”
Dyche claims City’s problems underline the strength of the Premier League after an era of sustained success under Guardiola. “The challenge of the Premier League means that sometimes it can even happen to the superpower clubs. That’s how powerful the Premier League is. Man City with their strength and depth and their amazing manager are still finding it tough against everyone. They haven’t done for years but they are now and that is because the Premier League is a powerful league. They are amazing at what they do but one or two injuries, one or two awkward results, and it suddenly looks and feels different.”
Dyche expects several Everton contract issues – including his own – to be decided before the end of the season after the takeover by the Friedkin Group. Everton have eight senior players in the final year of their deals, including Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Idrissa Gueye and Abdoulaye Doucouré, and Dyche and the director of football, Kevin Thelwell, are also out of contract next summer.
“These guys need to come in and get a view on who they are working with,” Dyche said. “I don’t envisage them not doing anything until the end of the season, for me or players or anything. They are well aware we need to keep things going but, equally, I’m not expecting them to just one day say: ‘Here’s a 10-year contract.’ You have to earn the right. They will do their homework as well.”
