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Roberto Martinez: I don't need to win FA Cup to save Everton's season
Roberto Martinez insists he does not need to win the FA Cup to rescue Everton’s season.
Martinez is coming under pressure from Everton’ fans with his side stuck in mid-table in the Premier League after winning just four times at Goodison Park this season.
Winning a first trophy since 1995 may go some way to appeasing those supporters but Martinez, who takes his side to Bournemouth for an FA Cup fifth-round tie on Saturday, has made it clear where his priority lies.
“I wouldn’t say I need to win it (the FA Cup),” said Martinez, who leg Wigan to a famous success when beating Manchester City at Wembley in 2013.
“What we want to do is qualify for a European position. We want to get into a European position in the table and we are in a position where we could do it.
“There are 36 points to play for and we are not far away. That’s what we are still fighting for and that’s our aim.”
Europa League qualification could go down to seventh place in the Premier League, depending on who wins the FA Cup and Capital One League Cup.
Everton, who are 11th in the table, are five points away from that position and six points behind Manchester United, who currently hold the one guaranteed Europa League slot.
Meanwhile, Martinez hopes Martin Atkinson’s error in Everton’s Capital One Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City was a ‘one-off’ with the referee set to take charge of their game at Bournemouth.
Atkinson failed to spot the ball was out of play before City scored the equalising goal in the tie which they then went on to win 4-3.
Everton captain Phil Jagielka later described Atkinson as arrogant after apparently questioning Everton’s defending.
But Martinez said: “We all know Martin Atkinson has got fantastic experience and is a top referee and is one of the best.
“Unfortunately for us the last time that we had him it had a massive bearing on the game and he affected the outcome and the outcome of getting to Wembley.
“You can understand the rawness of that feeling but in terms of the referee we know the experience he has and I just hope it was a call unfortunately he didn’t see or didn’t get enough help from his assistants and was a one-off.”
New Everton signing Oumar Niasse may see his Everton debut delayed as he recovers from wrist surgery.
Martinez will make a final decision on his involvement on Friday as he hopes a protective cast will allow the former Lokomotiv Moscow striker, who joined Everton in a £13.5m deadline day deal at the end of January, to play at Bournemouth.