Everton manager Sean Dyche has addressed a recent incident involving defender Nathan Patterson. During a meal at their training camp in Portugal, Dyche playfully slapped Patterson, which left some players feeling uneasy.
Captain James Tarkowski even had to intervene to calm things down. The pair were reported to have left the table for a short period before returning to finish their meals with the rest of the squad.
Dyche later apologized to Patterson and has now spoken publicly about the incident: "The old favourite - never let the truth get in the way of a good story. There's nothing in it, really. It was a joke."
"I tapped him on the head like your older brother would, and he didn't get the joke. That was it, basically. There's no more to it. But of course, that wouldn't have sold. So, when that does get out everyone has to add layers and layers and layers to it but it's really that simple. That was it."
Nathan Patterson, who hasn't played for Everton since January, reportedly felt embarrassed by the situation. However, the evening was mostly fun, and sources from the club say it was just a joke that didn't go as planned.
