Roberto Martinez has leapt to the defence of Ramiro Funes Mori following his sending-off in Everton’s Merseyside derby defeat last night.
The Blues defender received a straight red card for an ill-timed stamp on Liverpool striker Divock Origi early in the second half and then compounded matters by tugging at the club crest as he left the field.
But Martinez has backed Funes Mori in light of fierce criticism of the Argentine’s actions, suggesting that although the Mori got carried away with the occasion, he did not set out to deliberately injure the Reds front man.
He said: “In his head, he’s trying to win the ball, trying to play with passion, what he feels a derby should be about.
“We tried to regroup and the first action is the red card. From that point on the game becomes a non-event and a horrible, horrible experience especially with the big game we have around the corner.
“Ramiro tries to win the ball, that was his intent. He doesn’t try to hurt the player or contact the player. It is a mis-timed challenge – it could have been a yellow card, it could have been a red card.
“I can understand why the referee gave it. Probably Ramiro got carried away with the emotion of the derby.”
A chastening night for all associated with the Blues was made worse just after half-time when it emerged that key midfielder Gareth Barry had picked up a groin injury that makes him doubtful for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United.
And Martinez added that the combination of injury blows to Barry and John Stones, together with the red card, helped derail any hopes of a second half fightback.
“Everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong,” he added.
“At half time we lost Gareth Barry through injury and then John Stones falls victim to illness with some stomach cramps.
“We already have Phil Jagielka injured in that position and we ended up with two midfielders in those positions.
“It’s Gareth’s groin so he is very doubtful. He felt it very close to half time so we’ll see the extent of it. Maybe he came off at the right time.”