Chelsea next test in Martinez's learning curve

24 September 2009 02:02
Premier League managerial rookie Roberto Martinez is hoping his Wigan Athletic side have learned two harsh lessons handed out by two of the "big four" as he prepares his side for the visit of leaders Chelsea on Saturday. Spaniard Martinez, back at the club where he became a cult hero as a player after impressively cutting his managerial teeth with Swansea City, watched his side leak five goals after halftime against champions Manchester United in August and were buried 4-0 at Arsenal at the weekend. Apart from those two setbacks, and a League Cup humiliation by Championship side Blackpool, Wigan have performed reasonably well with wins over West Ham United and Aston Villa, a stoppage time defeat by Everton and a disappointing 1-0 home loss against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Chelsea are flying under Carlo Ancelotti, winning six out of six to top the table, and Martinez knows that his mantra of silky passing football might need a tweak against the big boys. Martinez, tipped by Wigan owner Dave Whelan to become one of the game's best managers, was unhappy with his side's display against Arsenal, especially as they appeared daunted by the challenge of testing themselves against the best. "We need to go to places like that and be ourselves," Martinez told Wigan's website (www.wiganlatics.co.uk). "We didn't do that." "Chelsea play in a completely different way to Arsenal, tactically we'll have to re-adjust a little bit. "We're playing at home so we'll have to take control of the game a bit more, dictate things and play face to face with them," added Martinez, suggesting a bit more steel rather than the silk he was well-known for at Swansea. Since Wigan arrived in the top flight they have managed just a solitary point in eight meetings with Chelsea who should have striker Didier Drogba available after he missed their midweek League Cup defeat of Queen's Park Rangers with a sore calf. Life could not be better for Ancelotti who also watched England midfielder Joe Cole make his long-awaited return to action after a lengthy spell out with a knee injury against QPR. Victory at Wigan would be Chelsea's 12th consecutive league victory -- a run spanning the last five games of last season. Manchester United, three points behind Chelsea in second spot, travel to Stoke City while third-placed Liverpool host Hull City. Manchester City, still smarting from a last-gasp 4-3 defeat by United last week, have to wait until Monday to get back on track when they play West Ham United. At the bottom of the table, Portsmouth seek their first point of the season at home to Everton.

Source: Eurosport