Friday, 19th September, 2014



Roberto Martinez has hailed Everton’s “perfect” start to their Europa League campaign as his side thrashed Wolfsburg 4-1 last night.

Ricardo Rodriguez’s own-goal and a Steven Naismith strike put the Toffees 2-0 up going into the half-time break in the club’s first European game in five years.




Further goals from Leighton Baines and Kevin Mirallas in the second period put the game to bed, although the Bundesliga outfit pulled one back through Rodriguez in the dying minutes of the contest.

And Martinez, who praised the atmosphere at Goodison Park, was extremely pleased with Everton’s work-rate throughout the course of the game.
 


The Spaniard also feels that the 4-1 scoreline does not reflect the difference between the two competitive and similar teams.  

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“It was the perfect first game”, Martinez beamed as he offered his post-match verdict to his club's site.

“We were looking forward to the environment of playing under the Goodison lights on a European night – and it was phenomenal. The atmosphere was perfect for us to start a very good performance.

“There were two very good sides and the scoreline probably doesn’t reflect the difference between them. We are very similar but we scored at the right times.

“Our work-rate was magnificent and when we had to defend we did that. Every time we went forward we had a clinical touch about us and it was a very satisfying performance.”

Everton will now turn their attention back to the Premier League where they will face Crystal Palace in a home fixture on Sunday.

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