Club captain Seamus Coleman spoke of a ‘surreal’ experience as he helped to lead Everton from the dugout with Under-18s boss and friend Leighton Baines
Seamus Coleman called on his Everton team-mates to do what they can to make the most of Goodison Park’s final months in a rallying call to his squad. The club captain was pulled from the substitutes’ bench to join Under-18s boss Leighton Baines in the dugout after Sean Dyche was dismissed hours before the FA Cup game with Peterborough United.
Together, the close friends put aside the “surreal” nature of the experience to oversee a 2-0 win courtesy of goals from Beto and Iliman Ndiaye.
Both spoke well after the match with Baines telling reporters of his pride in taking on the role – though he confirmed he had no intent to seek the senior managerial position on a permanent basis.
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Coleman praised the Blues for a professional performance against the League One side but was keen to look to the rest of the season and deliver a message to the squad.
He said: “It’s a bit surreal. I was playing and training yesterday and then I’m standing on the sideline with Bainesy. Credit to Leighton, he’s more used to this side of things than me. How he planned, how he prepared. I was there to support him as best as I could. I really enjoyed it.
“The most important thing is the lads understand – whether the manager is gone or a new manager is coming in – that regardless, Everton Football Club means too much to too many people and our fans are important to us.”
Coleman gave credit to Dyche for his role in leading the Blues through two survival fights, adding: “It’s never nice when you part ways with the manager. The manager done his job when he was here, he helped us through a 10-point deduction and tried to instil some Everton beliefs.”
Dyche was unable to build on that platform this season and the Blues have struggled, including at home during Goodison’s emotional farewell campaign.
Calling on the team to put that right, Coleman added: “We need to buy in and have a massive belief for the rest of the season. Because every game here is a game closer to it being the last and we’ve got to find that connection.”
