Source: Daily_Mail
Roberto Martinez claims defying the odds runs Wigan's blood
Roberto Martinez believes Wigan have made it part of the club's DNA to defy the odds and has urged his players to rediscover that mentality.[LNB]The Latics survived relegation from the Premier League last season with a victory on the final day of the season to extend their top-flight stay to a seventh season.[LNB] Hands up: Martinez has been defying the odds ever since he took over at Wigan[LNB]Having begun the current campaign positively Martinez's side are currently in a slump of five successive league defeats.[LNB]They travel to Newcastle tomorrow as rank outsiders against a team who appear to be defying the odds themselves at the moment and are close to equalling their best ever start to a season.[LNB]The fourth-placed Magpies are yet to be beaten this campaign and have not lost at St James' Park since March.[LNB]But Martinez believes those are exactly the sort of statistics the club have been battling against ever since they made their way up through the leagues following their formation in 1932.[LNB]'When you play for Wigan you need to be able to defy the odds and that is the way we have always played our football.[LNB]'I feel we are capable of responding to adversity and that is what we have to do on Saturday.[LNB]'Don't get me wrong we don't want to be in our current position but we know at the moment it doesn't mean anything now because it could be a reflection of who you have played and what injuries you have.[LNB]'We know where we are and what we have to correct. The next game is a massive football occasion and we are ready for that.[LNB]'At Wigan you learn to push yourself to the maximum.[LNB]'We have been seven seasons in the Premier League and we have to give everything and more to keep that going.'[LNB] Against all the odds: Wigan players celebrate with Martinez avoiding relegation last season[LNB]Martinez is not a man to waver under pressure - as his steadfast belief in his footballing ideals showed during last season's relegation battle.[LNB]He believes his squad have a similar outlook and have the mental strength to turn things around without the need for major surgery.[LNB]'We will never run away from the fact that we want to take risks, get on the ball and control games and for that you need to be capable,' added the Latics boss.[LNB]'I feel the team can go anywhere and impose itself. That has always been in our culture.[LNB]'As a manager you learn to be under pressure and it is not externally it is what you put yourself under.[LNB]'We want to be better and achieve more and that is the only way you can manage.[LNB]'Externally there is a role for the media and supporters to have expectations and opinions but as a manager you don't look outside.[LNB]'You go down to character and responsibility - if you don't have these ingredients in your dressing room you cannot face adversity.[LNB]'But we have been through that time after time and we carry on doing that because we are relying on players with potential and youngsters with huge talent.[LNB]'The experience comes through painful lessons.[LNB]'What is important is you understand the margins are so small. Even though we are in the bottom three in October things can change drastically.[LNB]'If we had scored the penalty against Swansea (a goalless draw) with 10 minutes to go we would be mid-table.[LNB]'It is about finding solutions and being demanding of each other. and going back to responsibility and maturity.[LNB]'From myself, to the staff and every single individual we all need to give that extra five per cent because we need to affect those small margins which at the moment are going against us.'[LNB] NEWCASTLE v Wigan: Fab news for Pardew with Coloccini fit after toe scareMoses opens talks with Wigan over new deal to extend stay at DW StadiumAston Villa 2 Wigan 0: Agbonlahor and Bent inflict more misery on sorry Wigan[LNB] [LNB]
