Martinez coy on future as Wigan relegated
Source: AFP |
May 16, 2013, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WIGAN Athletic manager Roberto Martinez refused to confirm his future lies with the FA Cup winner after a 1-4 defeat at Arsenal confirmed his side's relegation from the English Premier League.
Martinez's team will be back in the Championship for the first time in eight years next season, but whether its highly-rated boss will be around remains to be seen.
Wigan became the first club to win the FA Cup and be relegated in the same season, but Martinez's stock is still sky-high thanks to its epic upset against Manchester City at Wembley last Saturday.
The Spaniard is one of the favorites to take over at Everton following David Moyes' impending move to Manchester United.
And the prospect of life in the second tier may persuade Martinez that now is the time to move on after he rejected approaches from Aston Villa and Liverpool over the last two years.
But for now he is playing his cards close to his chest.
"If I am honest with you it is so fresh that we have been relegated and I don't think it is the time (to talk about the future,)" he said.
"Now is not the time for individuals. When you walk into the dressing room after this match it is heartbreaking.
"In the summer, as always happens, there will be assessments and whatever happens will happen."
It was understandable that Martinez was unwilling to focus on his own situation at such a delicate time for his club. Just three days previously he had secured the first major trophy in Wigan's 81-year history.
But that incredible Wembley triumph had left his players running on fumes and they collapsed in disastrous fashion in the second half at the Emirates Stadium in London on Tuesday.
Shaun Maloney's superb free-kick in first half stoppage-time had given Wigan hope after Lukas Podolski's early opener. But Wigan's sloppy defending, its Achilles heel all season, returned to haunt the club again as Theo Walcott, Podolski and Aaron Ramsey were allowed to score far too easily.
"I was confident this team could win the last two games, so it is difficult to describe the feelings. It comes as a shock," Martinez said.
While Wigan faces a gruelling slog to return to the Premier League, Arsenal is within touching distance of qualifying for the Champions League for a 16th consecutive season.
An eighth successive season without silverware meant the pressure was on Arsene Wenger's team to at least finish in the top four and it will achieve that aim with a win at Newcastle on Sunday.
Wenger is confident the Gunners, one point clear of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, will finish the job after keeping their composure with so much at stake against Wigan. "It is all open, it depends on our result. Even third place is not out of sight if we win the game."
Martinez's team will be back in the Championship for the first time in eight years next season, but whether its highly-rated boss will be around remains to be seen.
Wigan became the first club to win the FA Cup and be relegated in the same season, but Martinez's stock is still sky-high thanks to its epic upset against Manchester City at Wembley last Saturday.
The Spaniard is one of the favorites to take over at Everton following David Moyes' impending move to Manchester United.
And the prospect of life in the second tier may persuade Martinez that now is the time to move on after he rejected approaches from Aston Villa and Liverpool over the last two years.
But for now he is playing his cards close to his chest.
"If I am honest with you it is so fresh that we have been relegated and I don't think it is the time (to talk about the future,)" he said.
"Now is not the time for individuals. When you walk into the dressing room after this match it is heartbreaking.
"In the summer, as always happens, there will be assessments and whatever happens will happen."
It was understandable that Martinez was unwilling to focus on his own situation at such a delicate time for his club. Just three days previously he had secured the first major trophy in Wigan's 81-year history.
But that incredible Wembley triumph had left his players running on fumes and they collapsed in disastrous fashion in the second half at the Emirates Stadium in London on Tuesday.
Shaun Maloney's superb free-kick in first half stoppage-time had given Wigan hope after Lukas Podolski's early opener. But Wigan's sloppy defending, its Achilles heel all season, returned to haunt the club again as Theo Walcott, Podolski and Aaron Ramsey were allowed to score far too easily.
"I was confident this team could win the last two games, so it is difficult to describe the feelings. It comes as a shock," Martinez said.
While Wigan faces a gruelling slog to return to the Premier League, Arsenal is within touching distance of qualifying for the Champions League for a 16th consecutive season.
An eighth successive season without silverware meant the pressure was on Arsene Wenger's team to at least finish in the top four and it will achieve that aim with a win at Newcastle on Sunday.
Wenger is confident the Gunners, one point clear of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, will finish the job after keeping their composure with so much at stake against Wigan. "It is all open, it depends on our result. Even third place is not out of sight if we win the game."
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