Everton is vying for a top four spot and their adrenalines are on a feel-good shape as the season reaches its tense finale. Part of the club’s feel-good campaign is to hold an open training session in front of thousands of Toffees’ fans.
Including the latest hugely impressive 3-0 match against the Gunners on Sunday, Everton accumulated a total of six successive league matches.
Although the Toffees are making a late surge towards a place in the season’s Champions League, it still made history which the former manager David Moyes wasn’t able to achieve even though they reached the qualifying round in 2005. Under Martinez’s leadership, the club got so close in his first season at Goodison Park which gave their fans a huge lift.
The Toffees progress can be seen at some of the club’s brilliant attacking play which gave the team confidence to continue their flame. Martinez said, “The players should welcome the challenge.”
"We embrace those expectations, I said earlier in the season that it is very, very difficult to change the perception of what teams are going to challenge for, a top four position or to win the title," Martinez told Sky Sports on Tuesday before a rare open training session at Goodison Park.
"For us to be involved in this fight is exactly what we are looking for.
It's down to good work by the players and now we've got 18 points to fight for," Martinez added.
Sitting one notch below the Gunners with a match in hand, should the Toffees take maximum points from their final six matches to guarantee a fourth spot?
Guaranteeing a fourth spot means home victories over Manchester United and with their second to the last match over Manchester City.
This could result to bitter local rivals, Liverpool, a leg-up in their league title challenge.
According to Everton’s defender Sylvain Distin, some Evertonians would even give up fourth spot if its denying Liverpool a first league title since 1990.
"We've spoken about it with some of the staff and said, 'What if we have to beat City to be in the Champions League, but by doing that Liverpool win the League,” Distin said.
"The funny thing is some people would rather we don't get Champions League as long as they don't win the league," Distin added.
"Personally I'd rather be in the Champions League.
You can't miss a chance for that. It would be amazing for the City if both clubs made it.
Deep down all the fans would like it if we were both were in it," Distin concludes.
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