Everton v Dynamo Kiev, Europa League: Roberto Martinez insists he can handle the pressure
Martinez admits Everton have an ‘unacceptable’ domestic points tally, but he's confident he can turn around
Everton v Dynamo Kiev, Europa League: Roberto Martinez insists he can handle the pressure
Below par: Roberto Martinez is not happy with the way his team have been performing in the league
With a potentially historic cup run coming amid a fight to stay in the Premier League, Roberto Martinez finds himself in familiar territory.
The problem for Everton is their manager’s experience of cup success and a relegation dogfight is both reassuring and disconcerting. Two years ago his Wigan side won the FA Cup but dropped out of the division.
He moved on with his reputation intact but the stakes are higher at Goodison Park, where Europa League progress against Dynamo Kiev – the first leg is played on Merseyside on Thursday night – can not disguise intolerance for what Martinez admits is an ‘unacceptable’ domestic points tally.
“Unfortunately, I have been in this situation many times,” said Martinez.
Roberto Martinez knows results must improve soon
“The best thing you can have in this situation is experience of what is needed to get the squad to perform. This is the situation I control the most. I finished fifth in the league. I won a trophy. But I have been four years on the trot having to get 36, 37 points in difficult circumstances. I know the severity of the situation and about not having margin for error. I have been brought up with it. I don’t think that is a problem. For us as a football club, the position we are in is unacceptable and at the end of the season, we need to look at why it has happened. But for the time being, we need to show a real desire to win.”
Martinez knows for all the goodwill towards his style of football and his desire to elevate Everton into a club that aspires to more than pragmatic drudgery, his vision can only be sustained by results.
He works for the most loyal boardroom in English football, but you can be sure chairman Bill Kenwright has made it clear to the manager there can be no compromise on Premier League safety, regardless of how far Everton travel in Europe.
“It is normal you are going to get doubts, worries when you don’t get result – that is normal when you share a real passion for the football club,” said Martinez.
“Any person that loves the football club, we are all in the same position. We don’t enjoy this feeling. We don’t like being in the table with 28 points. We know the responsibility that we have and we will be ready on Sunday – but that is after we play Kiev. I don’t want to have the easy excuse of saying it is because we are in Europe. At the club we want to face these demands. We want to stand up to what is in front of us. The squad is strong enough to cope with four games in two weeks. That is what we are facing.
Everton lost to Stoke in their most recent match
“When the team gets a bad score-line, I am the one who is responsible. I don’t look to blame anyone. Football is a game of errors and the responsibility is mine. I will always accept that. I am not going to change now. The team is performing in a manner that we should have more points, but the reality is we have got 28 points. But at the same time there needs to be understanding that we have put a lot of effort into the Europa League. A football club the size of Everton needs to look to Europe and be as good as we can. We can’t look at the league and use it as an excuse to not do as well as we can in the Europa League.”
Steven Naismith is arguably Everton’s most consistent and honest performer in an erratic season. Although he will be among those who’ll be able to offer a positive self-assessment, he admits careers are on the line at Goodison over the next few weeks.
“Without a doubt,” said Naismith.
“If you are not performing then you are not going to be here very long. This club is ambitious and wants to go forward and I'm sure the manager will look for a replacement to do the job he wants done if you're not doing it.
“I'd say the biggest motivation though is personal pride. You don't want to be in a team that is struggling to perform every week. Players here have been successful and they have known difficult times as well and you want to be performing well for yourself, not just hoping it happens.
“We are aware of the situation, the manager has made us aware of it and the older players in the squad have touched on it. Some players might think 'it's Everton, we won't go down' but we know it doesn't work like that. We know we have to go out and perform. That is the goal from now until the end of the season. There are 30 points to play for in the league and we have to be up for every game.”
Kiev, led by former Spurs striker Sergie Rebrov, are top of their domestic league but have a poor record against English clubs winning just four of 22 fixtures.
By Chris Bascombe / Telegraph
