Roberto Martinez admits Everton FC are under pressure to take a healthy advantage to next week’s Europa League second leg in Kiev.The Blues welcome Dynamo to Goodison Park tomorrow night for the first leg of their last 16 tie before their trip to Ukraine seven days later.Martinez says Everton, who have seen off Wolfsburg and Young Boys away from home in this season’s competition, will be up against it when they face Kiev on their own patch.
Dynamo are unbeaten at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium this term and lead the Ukrainian Premier League ahead of Shakhtar Donetsk.
And asked if the Blues were under more pressure to get a win on Thursday night, Martinez said: “Yes without a doubt.
“Talking about the Europa League only, the home ties are very important.
“Away goals are very significant, going to Kiev makes it a difficult game, their results at home are very significant compared to away results, the state of the pitch, the lower amount of our fans away from home.
“Every time we have been away we have been in the driving force in the crowd, but I think in this phase, playing at home has extra significance if we want to progress.”
Everton ripped up Young Boys’ winning home run in European competition last month but Martinez says going to Kiev will present his players with a much tougher challenge.
“I think Young Boys was more being able to adapt to the surface and once we did that then it would suit our way of playing, and the fans incredible force for us,” Martinez added.
“Now we go to Kiev and the result could be in a different direction, the pitch is not in a great condition, it is a difficult place to go now and we don’t expect large amounts of our fans. The Goodison tie now is extra significant in this tie.”
Home struggles but European delights for EvertonThe Blues have flourished in the Europa League this season but struggled to recapture that form in the Premier League.
Martinez admits Everton have been allowed greater freedom to play in Europe but does he think that will continue when Kiev come to Goodison?
“Remember Wolfsburg is a good team to compare what we’ve done in Europe,” Martinez said.
“They had played 29 games and lost only two, both against Everton.
“Now that is not a naive team or a team that is open or exposed. Our performance in Europe have been with a lot more bravery, a lot more freedom and the results show that.
"When you play against teams like Kiev and Young Boys they are teams that are based on winning. They are built on winning and that opens games up. You can create chances the same way as them and they are entertaining games.
“They are different to the games that you face in certain games in the Premier League, I’m not saying all of them.
“Kiev are a team that people don’t know a lot about but for them to be unbeaten in their league it tells you the level they have got this season. They have talents like Yarmolenko, Kravets and Mbokani. At the back, Dragovic and Antunes. You have good Ukrainian talent. They have a couple of players missing like Belhanda.
“In general this team is 4-3-3, press high up and break things down. They are a very strong team and very confident.
“We know what we are facing and this competition now if you look at the 16 players left they are all Champions League standard.
“Kiev will play Champions League next season, Lille, Wolfsburg I think. The level of this Europa League has been very strong.”
Phil Kirkbride / Echo
