'WOLVES WILL BE TOUGHER' SAYS GAFFER
Posted on: Tue 18 Aug 2009
Martinez calls for fans to ge behind team at DW Stadium
Roberto Martinez is anticipating an even more difficult game tonight aganist Wolverhampton Wanderers to the one against Aston Villa on the opening day of the season.
Preparing for his first competitive home game in charge, the gaffer explained that Wolves will know what to expect tonight having seen Saturday's game, and he's calling on the fans to inspire another match-winning performance from the players.
"I can guarantee you that the game against Wolves is going to be harder than the game at Villa Park," said Martinez.
"They will come to the DW Stadium knowing exactly what to do, be very well organised and have nothing to lose. It'll be a completely different test and a different scenario to the one against Aston Villa.
"We need to be aware of that, everyone at the club does. Not just the players, the coaching but the fans as well, we're all in this together and we all need to encourage one another to produce the same kind of performance that will help get a similar result.
"They've made two or three excellent signings so it's not quite the same team I came up against last season with Swansea City, but I know the winning mentality will still be there and their achievements last season shows they work hard as a group, and they're going to provide tough opposition tonight.
"On the injury-front Olivier Kapo is still a few weeks away from returning. On Saturday Charles N'Zogbia took a nasty knock on his ankle and is 50-50 as to whether he'll feature, and Chris Kirkland came away with a dead-leg. But overall everyone else is fine so we'll asses things before-hand and hope everyone is ready for the game."
Saturday's triumph over Aston Villa really was a memorable performance, but Martinez believes that the best is yet to come and that the attitude of the squad will drive them to success, saying,
"I think that in time we'll start to see the true strengths of our squad, we're not a team that's happy sitting back and I want to get the best out of them.
"We don't like to invite pressure on ourselves because things can become very difficult once you do that. We are a team that can really hurt other sides in the things we do going forward, which we showed on Saturday. We looked really fit, strong and finished the game really well not giving Aston Villa the opportunity to put pressure on us.
"Everyone stuck to their roles, looked in fine shape and worked together as a team which is what we have to do if we're going to be competitive in the Premier League."
Roberto Martinez is anticipating an even more difficult game tonight aganist Wolverhampton Wanderers to the one against Aston Villa on the opening day of the season.
Preparing for his first competitive home game in charge, the gaffer explained that Wolves will know what to expect tonight having seen Saturday's game, and he's calling on the fans to inspire another match-winning performance from the players.
"I can guarantee you that the game against Wolves is going to be harder than the game at Villa Park," said Martinez.
"They will come to the DW Stadium knowing exactly what to do, be very well organised and have nothing to lose. It'll be a completely different test and a different scenario to the one against Aston Villa.
"We need to be aware of that, everyone at the club does. Not just the players, the coaching but the fans as well, we're all in this together and we all need to encourage one another to produce the same kind of performance that will help get a similar result.
"They've made two or three excellent signings so it's not quite the same team I came up against last season with Swansea City, but I know the winning mentality will still be there and their achievements last season shows they work hard as a group, and they're going to provide tough opposition tonight.
"On the injury-front Olivier Kapo is still a few weeks away from returning. On Saturday Charles N'Zogbia took a nasty knock on his ankle and is 50-50 as to whether he'll feature, and Chris Kirkland came away with a dead-leg. But overall everyone else is fine so we'll asses things before-hand and hope everyone is ready for the game."
Saturday's triumph over Aston Villa really was a memorable performance, but Martinez believes that the best is yet to come and that the attitude of the squad will drive them to success, saying,
"I think that in time we'll start to see the true strengths of our squad, we're not a team that's happy sitting back and I want to get the best out of them.
"We don't like to invite pressure on ourselves because things can become very difficult once you do that. We are a team that can really hurt other sides in the things we do going forward, which we showed on Saturday. We looked really fit, strong and finished the game really well not giving Aston Villa the opportunity to put pressure on us.
"Everyone stuck to their roles, looked in fine shape and worked together as a team which is what we have to do if we're going to be competitive in the Premier League."
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