Martinez eyes crucial period

Latics boss says next six months are crucial for survival chances

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 6th September 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Martinez eyes crucial period

Martinez: Looking to get into top seven

We have to work towards eventually becoming a top seven club - that is my aim.

Roberto Martinez
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Roberto Martinez has pinpointed the next six months as being crucial for Wigan's long-term Premier League survival.

Interest surrounded the Latics in the summer to see how Martinez would take to managing in the Premier League after a successful two-and-a-half year spell at Swansea.

A 2-0 away win at Aston Villa on the opening day of the season saw expectations rise, but Wigan fans have been brought back down to earth with a bump following three straight league defeats and a 4-1 thumping from Blackpool in the Carling Cup.

However, Martinez is confident his side have enough about them to turn their recent poor fortunes around and ultimately secure a place in the top seven.

"Our start does possibly reflect the amount of changes we have had to make within the club," the Spaniard told the Manchester Evening News.

"Players need time to gel but with hard work and a winning mentality it will come. If we are to go onto the next level we have to be successful in the next six months.

"We have to work towards eventually becoming a top seven club - that is my aim.

Huge potential

"I'm pleased with the squad. It may be a bit thin but we are constantly looking at finding ways to fulfil its potential, which I feel is huge.

"We will always be a team who creates chances. I know we have goals in the side - we have goals in us from both wide areas and from set-pieces and all the strikers are working very hard.

"However, we do need to find a way to score goals in other ways. We were unlucky to lose late on at Everton last weekend as we deserved something from the game and could have taken all three points.

"But when that happens you want to get back out there as soon as possible. Now the transfer window has closed, the next 18 games will provide the players here with stability and they know what is expected of them.

"We have some very important games coming up and we know the areas we need to work on."