Martinez: We are ready to travel around Europe and show how far we can go
Everton manager Roberto Martinez has gone on record to say how delighted he is that Everton have made it into the Europa League and says that his team fully deserve their place in the competition alongside strong sides such as Sevilla, Fiorentina, Dynamo Kiev, Inter Milan and Wolfsburg.
Martinez went on to say that his side were unlucky to miss out on the champions league as their points total would have secured it in 8 out of the last 10 seasons.
“I think we are ready for it – I do believe that it arrives at the right time,” Martinez told evertontv in the latest instalment of his feature length end-of-season interview.
“It feels like a real achievement and it’s not like we got European qualification through the back door as a consequence of being fortunate.
“We worked really hard. We wanted to finish in the top four but we just missed out. But we had the right numbers – 72 points would have guaranteed Champions League in eight out of the last 10 seasons.
“So we are very excited and the young players will be looking forward to experiencing that for the first time. The experienced players, I think they are ready to be tested and be part of a very demanding season.
“So, all in all, as a football club we are ready to travel around Europe and show how far we can go.”
“I am aware of the demands and I think it’s important that we are aware – but that’s what we wanted,” added Martinez.
“We do want to put ourselves under massive pressure in terms of performing week in week out in every competition that we are involved in.
“We need to be a team who can cope with those expectations and demands in European football and I have always said that as long as we embrace it, prepare well and give everything we have got, I know that our fans will support us whatever the outcome is.
“That’s a big advantage we have and it comes as a consequence of a very good season. Now we need to build on that and the best possible way is pushing ourselves even further, and to do that you need the European challenge.”
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