Wigan boss Roberto Martinez promisesstrong relegation run-in after Tottenham stalemate

EPL – Wigan Athletic vs Fulham, Roberto Martinez(Getty Imagres)

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Roberto Martinez has promised Wigan will ‘give their lives’ to maintain their Premier League status next season following his side’s necessary 0-0 draw at home to Tottenham.

Martinez admits his side are relying on other sides slipping up but maintains the performances from Wigan in the relegation run-in must result in points gained.

“I think we have to be realistic. We are in a position where we are catching up and we are in a
position where we need points but that’s something you cannot control,” said Martinez.

“What we can control is our performance and I am proud of the players today.

“I felt we showed how much we improved, how far we have come. I thought off the ball we were outstanding.

“When you play against a team like Spurs who are so flexible, so creative. You’ve got players like Modric and Van der Vaart, they get in very difficult areas to mark.

“I just felt that my players were tactically fantastic.”

Martinez’ insists his side nullified the threat of Spurs and the Spaniard believes Wigan could have snatched a win with the chances they created late in the game.

“It was a very good game of football and I felt that we edged it,” Martinez said.

“Defensively the whole team kept Spurs very, very quiet. We finished the game really strongly.

“They had a very good spell for 10 minutes in the second half. When they introduced their subs we lost control of the midfield area but we came back very strong.

“Connor Sammon’s chance and Di Santo’s chance at the end could have probably got us a goal and the three points that the performance deserved.”

The Spaniard believes the positive result is particularly significant given Spurs’ excellent pedigree, saying:

“I couldn’t be prouder of my team’s performance today, especially off the ball. It was a real test against a side that shows you why they are so successful in the Champions League.

“Spurs were very good. We should give credit to our players in the manner that we had to work. We didn’t give any space in between lines to Modric and Van der Vaart to get on the ball.

“The service into the front two was stopped really well. You have to give credit Spurs in the manner that they defended. I felt Sandro was phenomenal in the way that he gives balance to their side.

“We created many chances and I don’t think I’ve seen many teams get eight corners against Spurs and we did that.”

Martinez insists the club’s future is looking bright after the performances of some of his younger players.

“We had some very young players out there,” said Martinez. “Moses, who is 20, the tactical awareness that he showed today was fantastic and he showed how much he is developing.

“McCarthy at 20, Cleverley, Ben Watson; We’ve got a very young group and it’s a real shame that the season doesn’t start now for us because we’ve been working very, very hard.”

The Wigan manager feels his side have performed well against the stronger teams in the Premier League and is confident of obtaining safety.

“The last seven games against teams like Man United, Man City, Liverpool and Spurs today, we’ve got a very good return of points and we are going to carry on like this until the end of the season,” he said.

“I’m very confident that at least we are going to reproduce the level of performance we have seen in the last seven games.

“In the position we are in, we don’t expect any favours and we need to get 41 points at least. That’s whats going to be needed. 

“Home or away in the Premier League, they are very difficult games.

“We’ve got 21 points to play for and we’re going to give our lives to do that.”