Martinez 'proud' of players

Wigan manager talks of 'hurtful week'

Last updated: 28th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Martinez 'proud' of players

Martinez: Proud of win

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Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has hailed his squad's attitude after they hit back from last Sunday's humiliating loss at Tottenham to defeat Sunderland.

A solitary strike from Hugo Rodallega was enough to secure all three points as the Latics showed no signs of the defensive frailties that saw them concede nine goals against Spurs.

Martinez admitted that the week following the game had been hard to deal with but praised every aspect of the Wigan set-up for their response.

"Today is a feeling of being proud of the players. I think we all know it was a very difficult week, a hurtful week in many aspects," he told Sky Sports.

"But if you look at how you react to these sort of situations and the adversities you saw today on the pitch - a fantastic attitude, a great approach - to match a very good Sunderland side and just contain them to one shot on target.

"Everything about what the players showed is what a good reaction would be after what happened at the weekend.

Magnificent

"It's not just that aspect, I think the football club reacted in the right manner.

"The support has been magnificent from the fans during the week and it has been a very painful week but I think we are a stronger football club now after this performance."

The former Swansea manager said that sheer determination played a large part in battling to a win against Steve Bruce's Sunderland side.

But Martinez also believed that the quality and talent in his squad shone through during the hard-fought victory.

"That togetherness, that desire, that wanting to win the football game," the Spaniard said when asked how Wigan had managed to win.

Quality

"But then the quality, we showed the quality of the side in many, many aspects.

"When you get that sort of test on the football pitch you need to react and you need to find a way to win football games, it couldn't be a bigger test than today."

Martinez also singled out goalkeeper Chris Kirkland for praise after the Wigan stopper was left devastated by the White Hart Lane rout.

He said: "Goalkeepers are very independent thinkers. Chris was really hurt last week and (today) you can see the reaction.

"I was really proud of him, he reacted as a man this week and today's performance shows you that if England needs a goalkeeper he's got all the ingredients."