Roberto Martínez Vows To Get Everton Into Champions League
'I'll Get You In The Champions League'
Samuel Luckhurst— The Huffington Post UK
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PA
Roberto Martínez has vowed to build on David Moyes' legacy at Everton by guiding the club into the Champions League.
Moyes' Everton finished fourth to qualify for club football's premier competition in 2005 however they were controversially beaten in pre-qualifying by Villarreal.
Martínez has signed a four-year contract at Goodison Park and Toffees chairman Bill Kenwright revealed the Spaniard's bold statement.
"Roberto's first words to me were 'I'll get you in the Champions League'. Then he showed me how he beat Man City in the FA Cup," Kenwright said at Martínez's press conference.
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Kenwright welcomes Martínez to Goodison Park
"He understands the game. He understands Everton."
Martínez joked: "The chairman hasn't put any pressure on me by saying he wants to get into the Champions League!
"The chairman hasn't put any pressure on me," he said.
"We have a very strong team and over the next few months we need to get together and make sure we are a winning side.
"Finishing in the top six was magnificent for Everton but we need to achieve more.
"The fans need to know that they are the most important part of this football club. We will wear our heart on our sleeves."
Asked why he had chosen now to leave Wigan, having turned down Aston Villa and Liverpool previously, he added: "It is simple: it came in a natural way. It has been a phenomenal time at Wigan but after four seasons this was the right time and I knew Everton was the right club.
Roberto Martínez in England
English Soccer -Wigan Athletic v Mansfield Town(01 of13)
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Wigans Spaniards, Roberto Martinez and Isidro Diaz celebrate winning the Third Division Championship at Springfield Park (credit:PA)
Scottish Soccer - Bank of Scotland Premier League - Motherwell v Kilmarnock(02 of13)
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Roberto Martinez, Motherwell (credit:PA)
Soccer - FA Cup - First Round - Cheltenham Town v Swansea City(03 of13)
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Roberto Martinez, Swansea City (credit:PA)
SOCCER LDV_Final(04 of13)
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Swansea City's Roberto Martinez celebrates with the trophy following their 2-1 victory against Carlisle United in the LDV Vans Trophy Final at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Sunday April 2, 2006. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA. THIS PICTURE CAN ONLY BE USED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF AN EDITORIAL FEATURE. NO UNOFFICIAL CLUB WEBSITE USE. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Coca-Cola Football League One - Brighton & Hove Albion v Swansea City - Withdean Stadium(05 of13)
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Swansea City manager Roberto Martinez celebrates with the Coca-Cola League One champions Cup, after defeating Brighton 1-0, and winning the league. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Roberto Martinez(06 of13)
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File photo dated 16/6/09 of Wigan's new manager Roberto Martinez with Chairman Dave Whelan following a press conference at the JJB Stadium, Wigan. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Stoke City v Wigan Athletic - Britannia Stadium(07 of13)
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Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez celebrates with his players after staying up during the Barclays Premier League match at Britannia Stadium, Stoke. (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Stoke City v Wigan Athletic - Britannia Stadium(08 of13)
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Wigan manager Roberto Martinez celebrates with his players at the final whistle during the Barclays Premier League match at Britannia Stadium, Stoke. (credit:PA)
Manchester City v Wigan Athletic - FA Cup Final(09 of13)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 11: Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez celebrates after victory in the FA Cup with Budweiser Final match between Manchester City and Wigan Athletic at Wembley Stadium on May 11, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths - The FA/The FA via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Soccer - FA Cup - Final - Manchester City v Wigan Athletic - Wembley Stadium(10 of13)
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Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez lifts the FA Cup trophy after his side's victory over Manchester City (credit:PA)
Soccer - FA Cup - Final - Manchester City v Wigan Athletic - Wembley Stadium(11 of13)
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Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez and winning goalscorer Ben Watson (left) pose with the trophy following their victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final (credit:PA)
Manchester City v Wigan Athletic - FA Cup Final(12 of13)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 11: Manager Roberto Martinez of Wigan Athletic celebrates victory with his players after the FA Cup with Budweiser Final between Manchester City and Wigan Athletic at Wembley Stadium on May 11, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Wigan Athletic FA Cup Trophy Parade(13 of13)
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Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez during the FA Cup trophy parade in Wigan. (credit:PA)
"It has been a natural transition to be involved in such an exciting club."
Kenwright confirmed he spoke to Everton coaches Alan Stubbs, David Weir and Phil Neville about succeeding Moyes before settling on Martínez.
The Everton chairman also admitted one player, believed to be Marouane Fellaini, has a release clause in his contract but the rest of the squad is "not for sale".
Moyes is interested in bringing Fellaini, who would cost £24 million, to Manchester United.