Martinez tries to make his players forget Chelsea glory

Carl Markham
Friday 02 October 2009 00:00 BST
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Martinez says he is under no pressure to sell
Martinez says he is under no pressure to sell (Getty)

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Roberto Martinez has warned his players not to get carried away with beating Chelsea as there are more important matches yet to be won.

The Latics pulled off a shock last weekend when they ended the 100 per cent record of Carlo Ancelotti's side, recording their first Barclays Premier League victory over a "big four" club in 35 attempts. Wigan fully deserved the 3-1 win but Martinez is keeping his feet on the ground ahead of the trip to struggling Hull City on Saturday.

"What happened against Chelsea has gone, it's finished. It was an historic day but we have to focus on Hull," said the Spaniard.

"We wanted to have a performance against one of the top four – it has taken us 35 games – but everyone in the town is proud of the players. That is important, but that is at the back of our minds now and we are ready for the next challenge, which is completely different."

After the victory over Chelsea, Martinez and his players were bombarded with media requests for interviews, but the manager was keen to keep things low-key, as he has all season. He knows that fortunes can change quickly in the top flight, especially having lost 4-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates the previous week.

"We are not in a position where we can shout too much about ourselves because we can carry on improving," said the 36-year-old.

"We are very level-headed. There has been a normal reaction on the training ground this week and in a way that is what I want.

"People are very responsible with their jobs, they don't get carried away after victories and don't get too down after a defeat. We have to be realistic to assess our situation and I think we have got that.

"We need to know what we can improve and what we are good at and when the season finishes, and has hopefully been a success, that will be the time to shout about it."

Martinez added: "I believe we have huge potential in this dressing room and we need to fulfil it. At the moment it is just a game and we have to make sure we keep our concentration on the things we need to do on Saturday to carry on being competitive on the pitch.

"We have a group that is desperate for success and desperate to maintain the high standards they have set and that is what I like – I don't like people who get influenced by results.

"Sometimes you cannot control the results, a bad decision from a referee, a linesman or a player can affect that, but overall the standard of your performance will give you the points at the end of the season. That is all we can control."

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