Roberto Martinez has warned his players they need to find a way to deal with high expectations as his side prepare for an FA Cup fifth round tie with Swansea.
Martinez was the man to orchestrate the Toffees’ departure from the competition last year, leading Wigan to a 3-0 win at Goodison Park in the quarter finals.
Martinez has looked back to that game in last year’s competition, and what he saw as the opposition manager, to prepare his side for today’s tie with Swansea.
"I don't think Everton were complacent against Wigan," Martínez told The Guardian.
"But I thought there was a real feeling of responsibility on them, of wanting to get to Wembley, and that probably affected them at the start of the game. We scored three goals and it became very difficult. What you need to be careful of in cup competitions, when you're playing at home and you are favourites, is coping with that feeling.
"You can be too relaxed or too tense going into a game that you are expected to win so it is crucial to find that happy medium. I feel the dressing room has got something special and we can react and face adversity in an incredible manner, as we've shown in the last few weeks. The way we want to play and the way we want to win games is clear. We want to keep polishing that and keep getting better so the focus is on that – it is not about winning a trophy."
Martinez rejected the suggestion that he might sacrifice the FA Cup in the pursuit of a top four place. When asked if he would prefer an FA Cup win or a top four spot, Martinez replied: “Why can’t we have both?”
"To be honest, I think you have a better chance to get both, I don't think it is one or the other. There is momentum, competition for places and it is better to rotate players when you are winning. I think we could do that but I do feel Sunday is a very, very difficult game. Swansea will come with a good mentality, nothing to lose, and they are a possession team like us. For us, this is the same as the game last season when Everton played Wigan in the FA Cup, 100%."
