Manager Sean Dyche said the “shudder” from Everton’s points deduction has given them a renewed sense of unity.
Everton are awaiting the outcome of an appeal against the Premier League’s decision to dock them 10 points for financial rule breaches.
Dyche, 52, celebrates a year in charge at Goodison Park next week.
“Possibly that [the points deduction] realigned the whole situation, as hard as its been,” the Toffees boss told BBC Radio Merseyside.
Everton were handed the 10-point punishment – the biggest in Premier League history – by an independent commission.
Earlier this month, Everton were also referred to another independent commission for alleged breaches of profit and sustainability rules in their accounts for 2022-23, as were with Nottingham Forest.
The Goodison Park club lodged their appeal against the 10-point sanction with the Premier League’s judicial panel in December, when the club admitted the breach but said they were “shocked and disappointed” at the severity of the punishment.
Dyche said: “You got a shudder across the club where everyone goes ‘woah, hang on a minute’.
“We’ve taken some knocks. I think the fans have played their part with the knocks and absorbed some of that.”
Dyche took over at Everton a year ago following the sacking of Frank Lampard, with the club 19th in the league and two points from safety.
In his first news conference as Everton manager Dyche said that the “message is clear” that “unity” was needed to galvanise the club.
Just under 12 months down the line and Dyche said Everton’s players are a “a more tight-knit, mentally tougher team to play against” and there is a stronger connection with supporters.
He added: “We are trying to bring a modern version of the club so the old Toffees [fans] can recognise that and also renew that feeling with the younger Toffees, the keyboard warriors, and change their views a little bit.
“Not of me, but the club at large. Whilst on the pitch, trying to do it from a visual point of view.
“Everyone is thinking [before the financial charges] ‘we should be doing this, we should be doing that’ and all that noise turns to ‘hang on a minute’ considering the challenges.”
‘Any transfer decisions made by us’
Everton are still awaiting a takeover by Miami-based investment firm 777 Partners to be approved by the Premier League.
Despite a backdrop of financial issues, Dyche said the club are not under any pressure to sell players in the remainder of the January transfer window.
“The first thing is making sure the group stays together. I think we’re in a good place to do that,” he said.
“Any decision that’s made will be controlled by us. So that’s a good starting point. If there is a decision to be made it will be made by us, rather out of necessity.”
Dyche acknowledged that because of “various situations which need to stay in place at this time” it is unlikely the club will be able to make any major signings.
He added: “We showed in the summer that we don’t have massive finance but we worked hard to construct deals with other clubs where they were understanding of the fact the money had to [be] put in different zones.
“We’re also looking out for good loans. Looking out for loans that can affect us, because that’s the key thing.”.
