Wigan will bounce back - Martinez

18 May 2013 14:47

Wigan will soon be back in the Premier League despite having suffered relegation this season after eight years in the top flight, manager Roberto Martinez said.

The Latics dropped back into the Championship on Tuesday night after a 4-1 thumping at Arsenal, just four days after a historic first ever FA Cup triumph.

"It's been a tough lesson of what football is all about - real highs and real lows. In our case it was a real contrast - as high as you can get and as low as you can get," said Martinez.

"Tuesday night was really difficult, Wednesday was a difficult day, but after that you need to (move on).

"The support of the fans has helped. They have let everyone know at the football club that the FA Cup win is a historic win and we'll never lose that, our name will never disappear from that famous trophy.

"The position in the league is something we can correct, and that's something we have to do as a football club."

Although that Premier League adventure has come to an end, Martinez, who took over from Steve Bruce in 2009, says the club can be proud that it punched above its weight for so long.

"It's a time to look back over the last eight seasons. To have over 300 consecutive games in the Barclays Premier League is an incredible achievement," he said.

"In the last four years we've beaten all the top five teams, we've played everyone eye to eye and I think we've created a phenomenal history for our football club, which means that once the football club will come back at this level, it allows you to have that direction and try to look for a top-10 finish."

Source: AFP