Everton sealed their survival from Premier League relegation at the weekend, meaning they remain one of the few remaining clubs to have never been relegated from the English top flight.

It could be Sean Dyche’s biggest ever achievement as a manager with the challenges that Everton have faced this season.

Everton have had a total of eight points deducted from their tally this season for breaching Premier League financial rules. 

Dyche said: “We have not been given an easy ride and I am super proud. The knocks keep coming for me as well – this job is not the way it has been pitched to me or what has happened.”

And it wasn’t looking good when they were beaten 6-0 by Chelsea a few weeks ago, at a pivotal time in the season when form matters the most. We don’t know what Dyche said to his players after that game but the response was there, with Everton winning their next three games on the bounce to secure safety.

“It feels very good, coming out of all the knocks we have had,” Dyche said.

“We have relied on no-one but ourselves. No-one outside the club and the fans, we have not been given anything, no easy ride and I’m super proud.”

The key thing all managers do when they are fighting for survival is to try to get a last push out of the players.

I am sure he kept on motivating the players and making them feel the belief he had in surviving. This also why he sometimes came across like it was hard in press conferences, but in the dressing room I am sure they saw a different man who believed and just made sure the players’ heads we’re all thinking the same way. The reason is that if one player does not believe in him it could affect the other players, and you need to find that player and make sure you talk to them or move them away from the team until they are ready again.

It’s unclear what the future holds for Everton with a potential takeover in progress that looks like it might collapse. But away from all of that Sean Dyche and his team have shown great mentality to do their job under the pressures and challenges the club is facing.