Martinez eyes end to Everton’s drought
DECLARES DESIRE TO WIN FIRST TROPHY IN TWO DECADES
It is more than 20 years since Everton last won a trophy and Roberto Martinez says more silverware is long overdue as his side prepare for today’s League Cup semifinal first leg against Manchester City.
The FA Cup in 1995 was the last addition to the trophy cabinet at Goodison Park, which during the 1980s had also been home to two league titles and a further FA Cup success in 1984.
That was also the year Everton lost in the final of the League Cup, going down 1-0 to Liverpool in a replay.
Seven years ago, Everton had reached the final of the League Cup, but now they are just two legs of a semi-final against City away from going back to Wembley to face either Liverpool or Stoke City.
Martinez’s side have reached the last four of the competition for the first time since 2008 and the Everton manager is determined to end the trophy drought.
“I truly believe we are not far away from bringing glory into our football club,” Martinez said.
“That’s something we want more than anything, to be able to give our fans a taste of becoming a winning team once again.”
Everton are currently 11th in the Premier League after drawing 1-1 at home to Tottenham on Sunday.
That position does not perhaps reflect the talent Martinez has in his squad in the shape of England defenders John Stones and Leighton Baines, Ross Barkley in midfield and 18-goal top scorer Romelu Lukaku in attack.
Recovery
City, who won the League Cup and the Premier League in 2014, will start as favourites and, having won at Watford on Saturday, will have had an extra day’s rest ahead of the first leg on Merseyside. But despite failing to win at Goodison Park since November, Baines is hoping to make home advantage count ahead of the return leg at Eastlands on January 27. “It’s a great place to play in games like that and it’s one to look forward to. It’s a really exciting game for us to be involved in,” Baines said.
“It’s a busy time for us and so we have to do everything right on the pitch as well, in terms of recovery and preparation to make sure we leave no stone unturned and give it everything in order to try and make it to the final.”
City head to Goodison lifted by their first away win in the Premier League since September as they look to reach the final at Wembley on February 28.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side are still chasing a possible quadruple in the League Cup, Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup, with their campaign in the latter competition due to start at Norwich on Saturday.
But, despite the hectic schedule lying in wait, Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho, who has started all but two of City’s games this season, insists he doesn’t need a rest.
“My body works best when I’m playing all the time, so when I work more and I play more, I feel better,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola, who is linked with City, has announced he wants to coach in the English Premier League when he leaves Bayern Munich at the end of this season, but hasn’t yet signed a contract with a club.
“The reason I’m not staying at Bayern is very simple: I want to coach in England in the Premier League. That’s the only reason I’m not extending my contract,” Guardiola said on Tuesday.