Martinez delighted with preparations following friendly draw

Speaking after his side's final game of their Austrian tour against Genclerbirligi, Roberto Martinez explained how he was happy with what he saw as the players continued their pre-season preparations.

The game finished a 0-0 stalemate, but the gaffer looked past the result to the standards the team are setting in time for the start of the new season;

"It was another good exercise for us," said Martinez.

"We tried many things we've been working on lately in training and I was happy with the levels of concentration and intensity.

"There were spells when we had to defend heavily and we came through those tests very well.

"We also saw many partnerships forming around the pitch, players enjoying their roles and overall a very satisfying 90 minutes.

"We're at a stage where the players are working to the right volumes and it's starting to become a matter of sharpening up in time for the start of the new campaign.

"Genclerbirligi provided a good test, and are a team that clearly enjoy moving the ball around, playing good football which then allows us to work against different styles of play."

The gaffer went on to point out that the players are at the right point in their pre-season programme, and ready to start focusing on the tactical side of their game;

He said; "We're in a good place at the moment, with no injuries which is the main priority.

"The work has been controlled, the players are looking after themselves in between sessions, and now is the time to start slowing down the work in order to sharpen the players up; the kind of work they tend to enjoy a little bit more.

"Thursday was our 35^th session of the pre-season and you can see now that the players are mentally ready for the new season.

"There are two games still to go and many more sessions as well, but overall we are where we wanted to be at this stage."

Latics' next challenge will be against the gaffer's former club Real Zaragoza at the DW Stadium on Wednesday night, and he hopes it will provide a glimpse of what is to come in the future;

"The Zaragoza friendly will be an exciting one for the fans. I left the club to come to Wigan Athletic and to have witnessed the changes that have taken place here in that space of time has provided a nice story.

"Zaragoza will be a nice team to play against and it's also one of those games I would love to see Wigan Athletic involved in regularly in European competitions very soon."