30 Aug 2013 07:00
The former Swansea City boss will return to South Wales as his Everton team look to burst Malky Mackay’s men’s bubble on Saturday
Roberto MartinezEverton boss Roberto Martinez is bracing himself for a ‘welcome’ in Cardiff tomorrow – but doesn’t want to be reminded he never lost a South Wales derby in his time as Swansea City manager.
Martinez knows that his Swans connections will guarantee him a hot reception when he takes his new side to the Cardiff City Stadium tomorrow.
But while the Spaniard accepts there will be some familiarity on his return to South Wales, he insists he has some happy memories from those passionate derby encounters.
In fact, Martinez never lost any of his three derbies as a Swansea manager – winning a League Cup tie and drawing both league matches in the 2008-09 season 2-2 – but was keen yesterday not to jinx that record by talking about it.
Asked about his record of having never lost a South Wales derby, Martinez replied: “You shouldn’t say those things before a game!
“But I spent some really good times in South Wales so I’m sure I’ll get a welcome – what type I don’t know.
“It will be some sort of familiarity, we always had great derbies when I was at Swansea.
“That developed a really good point of joy for football in general in Wales and gave me some great memories which I look back on happily.
“I hope they do too.”
Martinez – whose Everton side have opened with draws against Norwich and West Brom – heads to Cardiff with continued uncertainty over star pair Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini.
The duo have been the subject of a Manchester United bid and, while Everton described that offer as ‘derisory’ Martinez has been linked with his former Wigan midfielder James McCarthy, who is rated in excess of £10m mark.
“It is not the case that we have to sell before we can strengthen,” said Martinez, who has already brought in Arouna Kone, Joel Robles and Antolin Alcaraz, all of whom he worked with at Wigan, plus Gerard Deulofeu from Barcelona.
“There is a little room to carry on bringing players but it doesn’t necessarily mean now. It could be in January.”
Defender Alcaraz (hamstring) and midfielder Darron Gibson (hamstring) are both set to miss the trip to Cardiff.
Bluebirds boss Malky Mackay has a full-fit squad to choose from apart from Danish striker Andreas Cornelius, who was stretchered off in the 2-0 Capital Cup win at Accrington Stanley on Sunday.
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