Everton are mentally strong, insists manager Martinez

Mar 12, 2016 at 5:19 PM

facebook iconlinkedin iconmail icontwitter iconWhatsApp iconTelegram icon
Everton are mentally strong, insists manager Martinez

Liverpool, March 12 (IANS) Everton have lost or drawn matches from winning positions several times this season, but manager Roberto Martínez has denied that his players lack the ability to finish off games.

In their last English Premier League (EPL) match against West Ham United, Everton were leading 2-0. But centre-forward Romelu Lukaku missed a penalty which triggered an Everton collapse as West Ham scored thrice in 12 minutes to win 3-2.

“It would not have happened like that if we hadn’t missed a penalty. And we had been playing with 10 men for most of the game. If we had won the game we would have had an incredible boost, being a man down for so long it would have been a great achievement but the penalty affected the whole environment,” Martínez told the local media here on Friday evening.

“It is not normal for a team that has conceded two goals in six games to give away three in 12 minutes. We don’t react badly to conceding goals. We have lost a couple of two-goal leads this season but we have learned from that. In normal circumstances, we can handle opponents pulling a goal back but against West Ham, it was not normal circumstances. It was completely different.”

With 38 points from 28 matches, Everton’s chances of a top-four finish in the EPL are not very bright. Martínez is now targeting some positive results in the FA Cup to liven up the season.

“The fact we have lost eight matches in the league is obviously not good enough but this is a chance to put some of that right. We have created negative momentum for ourselves at home, where things have gone against us in a way that has not happened in our away games. We have to stop that. This is a one-off game and it could be an important one,” the 42-year-old Spaniard said.

Related Article
The Top 10 Premier League Clubs With Highest Valuations Revealed As Manchester United Top The List With A Staggering Evaluation Of Almost $6 Billion
The Top 10 Premier League Clubs With Highest Valuations Revealed As Manchester United Top The List With A Staggering Evaluation Of Almost $6 Billion

Jan 25, 2023, 1:08 PM


Pundit Claims Arsenal’s Next Big Transfer Target Could Eventually End Up At Manchester United
Pundit Claims Arsenal’s Next Big Transfer Target Could Eventually End Up At Manchester United

Jan 19, 2023, 5:40 PM


Champions League Football At Stamford Bridge No Compulsion For England Star To Move To Chelsea
Champions League Football At Stamford Bridge No Compulsion For England Star To Move To Chelsea

Jan 4, 2023, 5:13 PM


Barcelona Given Glimmer Of Hope In Player Registration As West Ham Plotting A Shock Move For Their Wantaway Star
Barcelona Given Glimmer Of Hope In Player Registration As West Ham Plotting A Shock Move For Their Wantaway Star

Aug 12, 2022, 6:42 PM


‘A Bit S***’- Erling Haaland Leaves Fans In Frenzy After Swearing Twice On Air In Sky Sports Interview After Man City Debut
‘A Bit S***’- Erling Haaland Leaves Fans In Frenzy After Swearing Twice On Air In Sky Sports Interview After Man City Debut

Aug 8, 2022, 11:36 AM


In A Surprise Pick, West Ham’s Declan Rice Names Tottenham’s Forgotten Man As His Toughest Opponent
In A Surprise Pick, West Ham’s Declan Rice Names Tottenham’s Forgotten Man As His Toughest Opponent

Aug 1, 2022, 2:57 PM


Desktop Banner
Mobile Banner