Wigan Athletic Football Club News

• Nickname:Latics
• Founded:1932
• Manager:Roberto Martinez

• Ground:JJB Stadium
• Capacity:25,000

Scharner defended by Martinez

05 Oct 2009 - 09:47:34

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Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez has dismissed talk of a rift with Austria international Paul Scharner.

Scharner was unhappy at being replaced midway through the second half of the 2-1 defeat at Hull City, but Martinez says that he was happy with the passion being shown by his player.

He said: "He's a winner, I understand that. He lost his man for the set-piece for Hull's first goal and he wanted to put things right.

"But that's why we have a squad of players. We had to have a different approach with Jordi Gomez and anyway, he had a knock as well.

"I like my players to have that winning mentality, to not like getting beat. He felt he could have put things right and scored a goal for us.

"That was the frustrating thing for him and I like my players to be hurting when we lose, to take responsibility.

"We all need to learn lessons from this defeat."