Source: SKY_Sports
Martinez dreams of Europe
New Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez believes he can lead the Latics into Europe in the next few seasons.
The Spaniard was finally confirmed as the man to succeed Steve Bruce at the DW Stadium after a long and drawn-out process between Wigan and former club Swansea.
The Swans had agreed to let their manager leave for a fee of around £2million but the deal stalled last week when both clubs couldn't agree on a compensation package for Swansea assistant Graeme Jones and chief scout Kevin Reeves.
Both men have now joined Martinez at the Premier League club and the former Swans boss is already dreaming of guiding the Latics into Europe.
"First of all it's a great challenge because Steve Bruce has done a magnificent job," he told Sky Sports News.
"Finishing 11th in the Premier League is a great achievement for us. Now we need to make sure we keep on improving the squad because we lost a few numbers.
"From then on we need to be realistic and be patient and stay in the Premier League first of all, and then after that we need to have a dream and for Wigan that is eventually to play in Europe."
Martinez defended his decision to bring his two backroom staff from Swansea, even though it meant that confirmation of his move was delayed by a week.
"You need to work extremely hard," he added. "Football is about the players. To help the players to develop you need an important backroom staff where you can work together well and help the players as much as you can.
"So we need to have all the departments ready for what will be an exciting season."
The former Latics midfielder is facing up to losing star man Antonio Valencia even before he has had a chance to talk to the winger, with the Ecuadorian thought to be on the verge of joining Manchester United.
"It is a pleasure to have a player like Antonio Valencia in the squad," he highlighted.
"The chairman will tell me if he has to go or not but you cannot stop big players going for other challenges or other aims.
"If that happens we must improve squad. He is a world-class talent and we could do with another two like him. We will fight to keep him."
Martinez also revealed that he did begin to worry that the move might never happen when both Wigan and Swansea failed to agree on compensation for his assistants' services.
"Until you finalise things it could happen," he admitted.
"You don't like that sort of time because of the instability that it brings to the football club.
"When things are finalised you can get your head around it and start working.
"Now we need to bring the players to the football club and add to the very good group of players we have at Wigan already and I'm delighted that everything is done now."
