Dyche relieved for end of the season ahead of final game away to Arsenal [full presser]
Finch Farm Training ground, Liverpool, UK
Finch Farm Training ground, Liverpool, UK
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00:00 How does it feel to know that 6pm on Sunday is all over?
00:16 Pleasing, to be honest. It's been a very long season for many different challenges that
00:22 have come our way. A lot of work done by many to make sure we look after ourselves, so I'm
00:27 pleased with that. But no, very tiring season, but like I say, the balance of that is a very
00:32 pleasing season.
00:33 How will you look back on the season?
00:42 It's definitely been my most difficult because of the challenges in-house is one thing, but
00:51 then when it comes from outside and the varying things that have happened, the curveballs
00:55 that have come along, it does make it a challenge. Reacting to them, trying to find a balanced
01:02 view of it and then moving forward again and then repeating, of course, the second time
01:06 around with the points particularly.
01:10 And a lot of work done, like I say, it's not just I have to front it up, but a lot of work
01:14 done by a lot of people and I thank them for their work as well, Kev's included in that.
01:18 A very difficult job currently, trying to fathom out the business meets the performance
01:24 side of things and bring that together. Myself, the staff and the players, so I think everyone's
01:28 played their part and of course the fans without them and their support, it would be a more
01:31 challenging season without a doubt.
01:36 Some kind of planning is going into the next season, but is it difficult to plan with so
01:39 many question marks around what's going on in the big picture?
01:43 It is, but we're trying to be flexible about it and with the scouting system, the staff
01:49 as well, creating our own knowledge bank of varying outcomes and we've got to be ready
01:53 for what comes next and that is a difficult challenge, of course, but it's the reality.
01:59 So we've tried to and I certainly do, we focus on realities rather than the myths and the
02:06 conjecture and the noise, as I call it. We just focus on the realities of the challenge
02:09 so we are doing that.
02:10 Does it affect the players as well, though, considering obviously some don't know whether
02:13 they're going to come back in?
02:17 Well they've seen pretty, you know, we had a spell, a really tough spell, but they've
02:20 seen pretty clear-minded about the realities, partly because I tell them the realities and
02:25 explain that to them and share it with them and they sometimes share a view back.
02:29 Yeah, I mean, it's one of them things, you know, I suppose at the end of the day, whatever
02:34 way you look at it, the challenge of football as an individual, as a team, is to win and
02:38 that doesn't go away, you know, the varying stories around it.
02:43 They are more difficult to deal with now because of the inclusion of social media and the amount
02:47 of media presence, but you know, staying focused on the job has been really pleasing for me
02:51 because whatever happened this season, whatever happens in the future, you've got to win games,
02:55 you know, and I think the players, myself and the staff, the team feel has corrected
03:00 that after a really tough spell by winning the games we did at the end of the season
03:03 and we've never gone far away from that.
03:05 So in spite of all the noise and all the varying challenges, it doesn't actually change the
03:10 fact of football.
03:11 You've got to try and win and that's what we've attempted to do and we've done it enough,
03:14 certainly, to look after ourselves.
03:15 We don't know what's going to happen around VAR even next season, obviously there's going
03:20 to be a vote about whether it should stay or not.
03:22 I just want to know your thoughts about it and from an absolute, should we have it or
03:26 not?
03:27 Well, from my point of view, I think it's a necessary part of the business side of football.
03:31 I totally understand the fan engagement side is tricky, but it's such big business now,
03:36 you need as many of these details to be correct as possible.
03:39 The use of it is obviously in question and I understand that.
03:43 The offside for me is a given, I don't buy into it, I can't really work out this idea
03:46 of tolerance.
03:47 At the end of the day, you're offside, you're offside, that's what it's there for.
03:50 If you're offside by a toe, you're still offside.
03:52 I'd like to know if they do that in the 100m sprint.
03:54 No, sorry, we'll give it to the second one, just even though they didn't quite win it.
03:58 So that one's clear for me.
04:01 That's a good side of VAR, personally.
04:03 The challenge is trying to bring it to a much smoother operation.
04:07 There have been some mistakes made, they've got to be eradicated, of course.
04:12 I still think, like I say, I'll go back to the beginning, the business side of football
04:15 is so powerful and it's so apparent that it's vital, some clubs, including ours, this season,
04:24 that therefore you want those decisions to be correct.
04:26 But in balance to that, as I said, the fan engagement side and the fan side of it, then
04:31 that's a trickier situation.
04:33 I don't agree, I must say, this thing that's growing with power, this idea of miking refs,
04:39 I think they're in enough scrutiny, I don't know why you'd do that.
04:41 But now it seems to be the next step, that's what I read in the papers.
04:44 Is that like a true defender?
04:46 No, I just think, why add even more scrutiny to them?
04:49 They've obviously had a tough season, that's been well documented, why add more?
04:53 Give them less, take the pressure off them, allow them to have some form of professional
04:58 enjoyment of doing their jobs.
04:59 It's very tough being a referee and a linesperson, so therefore for me it's like take it off
05:04 them, don't add more on.
05:07 I don't think, anyway, that's my personal opinion, I think give them less and let them
05:11 focus on just getting on with refereeing and try and enjoy the professional side of it,
05:15 because it's not easy for referees or for linespersons, as I said.
05:18 You mentioned enjoyment, are you enjoying potentially being a spoiler this weekend?
05:23 Spoiler?
05:24 No, I'm not enjoying any of that, I'm not bothered with it.
05:26 It's more about us continuing the thought process I've put in place this season, the
05:30 mentality side of things.
05:31 I've spoken endlessly about it.
05:34 The mentality has been important, we've got to continue with that.
05:37 It's not an interest to me, it's out of my hands who wins, who loses and all that kind
05:40 of business.
05:41 It's more in the fact that we're on a good show of form for ourselves and our own reasons
05:46 and it's about keeping that mentality going into the final game.
05:49 Tough ask, they're a great side and they've shown that this season and who knows what
05:53 could happen next.
05:54 But no, it's more focusing on us going and performing.
05:58 You called it one of your more difficult seasons in management, just how proud are you of yourself,
06:04 your staff, your playing staff to finish the season in a way that you're currently only
06:08 five unbeaten to finish safe?
06:10 You must be really proud.
06:12 Yeah, pleased with so many aspects of it.
06:15 Especially, we've come out of a long run without a win, corrected that and then had a real
06:21 challenge and test and problem actually with, to use an old-fashioned word, you're not allowed
06:25 to use that anymore, but it's a problem when you come out of Chelsea and you've had a performance
06:28 like that.
06:29 That's a problem, that's not a challenge, that's a real problem.
06:32 To adapt and make sense of it and change the format, including ourselves, the staff, ask
06:37 more questions of ourselves in such a short period and then take on the next game and
06:41 then win that one and then take it forwards and win the derby, etc, etc.
06:46 That's very, very pleasing of course.
06:48 And ends up defining a season that shouldn't have, in my opinion, been defined by that
06:53 because in a different way, the points really have affected the season on a huge level when
06:57 we got the first lot of points and then the second lot.
06:59 If you look back to those days then, we were already doing nicely, changing the way that
07:03 we were working.
07:05 That definitely affected the psychology of the players for a period.
07:07 At first not, but then after that period you get a second amount of points.
07:12 Hard to take that.
07:13 So, overall I've been very pleased, not just with the end but the whole season's work.
07:17 And focusing on the 90 minutes purely on Sunday, not who deserves to win the league and all
07:22 that kind of thing, but what environments are you expecting to walk into on Sunday,
07:26 given the weight of the fixture in particular for us?
07:28 I don't know.
07:29 I mean, I think there's been bubbling there for a while now.
07:32 So I'd expect it to be the same.
07:35 The energy that a crowd bring in such a game, the event if you like, the focus will be on
07:40 them quite obviously and rightly so after the season they're having.
07:43 And we've still got a chance.
07:44 Everyone's saying it's unlikely and all that kind of business, but who knows in football?
07:49 But we're certainly not there for anything other than to perform and to compete.
07:54 That's one of the markets I've spoken endlessly about since I've been at the club.
07:57 So that'll be our aim, just to go down there and play well.
07:59 How do you pick apart their weaknesses?
08:01 How do you go about focusing on them?
08:03 Very difficult.
08:04 Very difficult.
08:05 The way they've performed and the way they've grown as the season's gone on and stayed in
08:08 there and forced themselves in there at times.
08:11 There's no two ways about it.
08:12 Topside, without a shadow of a doubt, as it happens at this stage, or currently anyway,
08:16 there's another topside out there who are doing just as good, if not slightly better
08:19 job for obvious reasons, as the league table suggests.
08:22 But no, they're having a great season.
08:23 So no, it's not easy.
08:25 We'll have to perform very well.
08:26 We know that.
08:27 We're probably, likely, going to have to defend very well as well, because that's the type
08:31 of side they are, particularly at home.
08:32 Finally, there'll be a few awards given out on Saturday, I think you've reached this conclusion.
08:38 Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, who would be deserving for you this season?
08:44 For us?
08:45 In terms of the Premier League as a whole.
08:46 Oh, well, the only one I'm surprised at, Jarrod Brumperry didn't make the list.
08:50 I'm amazed by that, but it's not for me to pick him out.
08:53 Various awards, I'm not really that big on awards, to be honest.
08:56 So whoever they choose, I'm sure they'll be worthy of it.
08:59 Thank you very much.
09:00 Thank you.
09:01 Thanks, John.
09:02 We'll go to Julie.
09:03 Hi, John.
09:04 There's still lots of reports, despite the fact you're safe and you go into this game
09:10 in a completely different mindset to what it's been in recent months.
09:13 There's still a lot of reports around prospective owners, deadlines and things.
09:16 Have you had any contact with the owner and how quickly would you ideally like this to
09:20 be sorted now?
09:21 No, no more news.
09:22 No more news.
09:23 It's been for weeks and weeks and months and months.
09:26 Watch this space.
09:27 I'm in the same space as you are.
09:28 Just wait and see.
09:30 The loss of money for each league place, you should be a lot higher given the points deductions.
09:35 Just generally, what do you make of that situation with the PSR sanctions have seen points deductions
09:40 and therefore dropping down the table?
09:42 It's frustrating, isn't it, when the club's trying to get back financially sound, isn't
09:46 it?
09:47 It would have helped to be much higher up where you should be.
09:48 Yeah, well, that's maybe the conundrum of, you know, I was suggesting.
09:51 I know it's not easy.
09:52 I made that clear, but in my imaginary view of the future is if you're doing it out of
09:56 season, well, then at least you'd start with a level playing field.
09:59 Well, you might not do if you've taken points off you, but you start with the reality.
10:03 When it's taken off you midway through and then it knocks onto the finishing places and
10:08 the money that's available, then that's bound to be a challenge.
10:11 But I suppose the simple argument is that, you know, if you've been breaking the rules
10:16 anyway, then you get what you get.
10:19 So I think that's just one of them things.
10:21 But as I said, for me, it would be done in the season, sorry, in the closed season.
10:25 That would be my preference.
10:27 But as I mentioned yet again, I'm pretty sure the legalities and the legal teams say it's
10:31 not quite that easy to get it done like that.
10:33 But that would be a much better position, I think, for everyone to be in.
10:36 You just asked about Dele Alli.
10:38 Is there any future for him, Everson?
10:40 And also, I know you got to know him quite well, even though he's not been able to play.
10:44 You know, if you can get sort of back fitness, how good a player could he be as well?
10:48 Yeah, we'll see.
10:49 I mean, my main aim, and I've spoken to him endlessly about it, is just get him back on
10:52 the pitch, get him playing, get him smiling, get him enjoying it again.
10:55 Because he's had a real tough time.
10:57 It became clear in his personal life.
10:59 But that's well and truly parked.
11:01 He looks good in himself.
11:02 You know, he seems well in himself.
11:05 And on the training pitch, you know, he looks like he's moving well.
11:08 So there's no, certainly I have thoughts for now that haven't changed that.
11:12 It's get him back going, get him playing with a smile again.
11:14 First of all, get him playing, of course.
11:16 But, you know, enjoying it.
11:17 Get back to enjoying what it is and the love of the game.
11:19 And I think that's the end goal that I've certainly spoken to him about, regardless
11:22 of his situation with us or anyone else for that matter.
11:24 But get him back to that love of the game and love of what he does.
11:27 Because he's a top player, without a doubt, when he's fully fit and running.
11:31 We've all asked you about lots of different things this season.
11:34 I wondered, given amongst all the negativity that went on, if you had a highlight of the
11:39 season for yourself?
11:43 Green Day tickets.
11:44 Fantastic.
11:45 How do you know about that?
11:47 You have a podcast and next thing you know they're ringing you saying you've won some
11:50 Green Day tickets.
11:51 You gave your tickets, you're right.
11:52 Yeah.
11:53 So, no, joking apart.
11:54 I don't know.
11:55 Look, I mean, there's many, you know, from a management point of view, there's many things
11:59 I've been pleased with.
12:00 Some I can discuss, some I can't.
12:01 But I suppose from my point of view, purely, I've been pleased with the fact of handling
12:06 a very, very tricky situation.
12:07 And I think I've handled it reasonably well.
12:11 And it's been a massive challenge to me as a person, not just as a football manager.
12:14 Because there's a high expectation, regardless of the facts and, you know, whys and wherefores
12:19 of this football club.
12:20 That goes out the window if you're not winning games.
12:22 So I've been handling, I've felt that I've handled that well.
12:24 So I've been pleased with that from a purity management point of view.
12:27 An individual moment.
12:28 I mean, look, of course it counted to me, not the same as the fans, but beating Liverpool
12:32 because of the years and the amount of time and at Goodison.
12:36 So that counts, of course it does.
12:38 But no, I think the whole is more important to me.
12:40 You know, I speak about a season's work.
12:42 And it has been a season's work and we've got there in the end.
12:45 So I think the whole is more important than one-off moments.
12:47 But I'm sure there are some highlights in there.
12:50 I'll have a couple of halves of lager shandy and reflect on it next week.
12:53 Not the tracksuit, goodness me.
12:56 Okay, Julian.
12:59 Any further questions?
13:00 Phil?
13:01 Just a team news check, Sean.
13:07 Andre Gomes, Jack Harrison, any changes from...
13:11 Jack probably, well, Jack won't be fit.
13:13 Andre we're waiting on.
13:15 We're hopeful that he'll be fit.
13:17 Everyone else should be, apart from the longer term ones, everyone else should be okay.
13:21 Thank you.
13:22 Cheers.
13:23 Any further questions in the open section?
13:25 George?
13:26 Yeah, just about the transfers.
13:27 Can you give any sort of positive news for the fans?
13:32 No, not at the moment because it's still not a balanced situation.
13:36 So we're just going to have to, like we said earlier in the earlier question, just going
13:39 to have to look at a balanced view about many different guidelines about what could happen,
13:44 what could occur.
13:45 It puts a lot of added attention on the recruitment side of things, or the possible recruitment
13:49 side of things, because obviously the wider the parameters, the harder it is.
13:52 But that's been the reality since I got here.
13:54 So we'll just be open-minded to be ready for what we can do when it comes our way.
13:59 I understand that, but obviously with the threat of a lot of people leaving with contracts
14:04 and loan players, just how do you foresee the challenges of balancing all those things?
14:08 Well, like I say, we'll see.
14:10 I think Kev spoke openly about there's an idea that we're likely to have to sell.
14:14 We don't know who, we don't know what, we don't know when exactly, because obviously
14:18 we're not open to that.
14:19 But if people are likely to come for our players, which we think there's certain players they
14:22 will do, then we'll have to be open to that, because that's just the current reality of
14:26 the club and the finances of it.