Roberto Martinez has blamed Everton’s route to the FA Cup semi-final for derailing their season.
Last night’s meek 3-0 defeat at Sunderland is likely to spell the end for an under-fire Martinez as Blues manager, as the club’s board of directors prepare to make a decision on his future today.
But the former Wigan boss’ potential last act in the Goodison Park hot seat was to lament Everton’s progress in the FA Cup, which culminated in a semi-final defeat to Manchester United, as the root cause for their recent downturn in fortunes.
He said: “We tried to get the focus after being in the FA Cup semi-final and sometimes it drops the intensity.
“The effort we put in deserved a lot more.
“You cannot be happy with not winning football games. I’m pleased with the effort and the intent of the players.
“It was not an easy game and Sunderland had a lot of momentum with their focus on the league.
“We have one more game to get the winning feeling and perform in a manner in which we can get the three points and end the season better.”