No fear for Martinez

16 August 2009 16:55
Manager Roberto Martinez has vowed to continue the entertaining approach that propelled Wigan to an opening-day victory at Aston Villa. The Spanish boss was overseeing his first Premier League match after taking charge of the Latics this summer and watched his side claim an unexpected 2-0 win. Hugo Rodallega hit a stunning opener before Jason Koumas produced a well-taken second-half strike in an accomplished performance by the visitors, which typified the footballing philosophy of their new boss. Martinez steered Swansea to the League One title in 2008 and an eighth-placed finish in the Championship last season with a free-flowing style that won them a host of admirers. And the former Wigan midfielder has no fear of playing the same brand of football in the cut-throat climate of the Premier League. "If we're going to lose, we're going to lose in style," he said. "You have to be brave. "I think you have to make sure you take pride in what you are doing. "Everything you do, you have to do it as a team. I think, in football, nothing comes as an accident. You need to work extremely hard and that's what the players have done. "To play in the best league in the world you need to have a special personality and you have to have a winner in your side, and every player has got that." Despite an impressive first game in charge, though, Martinez feels he has to make further reinforcements to his squad. Antonio Amaya became his fifth summer signing last week but the Latics boss is eager to ensure they are not left short following the departure of key players Antonio Valencia and Lee Cattermole. Martinez is reluctant to set Wigan any targets at present, although he expects to reassess the team's ambitions towards the business end of the season. "We've still got a lot of hard work ahead of us," he added. "First of all we need to finalise the squad. I don't feel that the squad is finished. We have until August 31, and first and foremost, I want to do that. "Once we do that, we have to carry on and try to get as good as we can, that will be the aim. Then after that, probably in February or March, you can set your aims. "It would be foolish on my part to guess what we will do this season, but I would be delighted if we can stay in the Premiership."

Source: SKY_Sports