http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Martinez-c24468 claims Wigan Athletic are stronger this season – EPL News
Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez has claimed that the current Latics squad is stronger this season despite their dismal start to the ongoing 2011/12 Barclays Premier League campaign.
The DW Stadium outfit merely survived relegation from the Premier League last season and did little to improve their squad in the summer transfer window.
Moreover, the Latics had to bear the loss of influential midfielder http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Charles-c8808
N’Zogbia, meanwhile, was sold to Aston Villa as the French international had just a year left on his contract and refused to extend the deal.
Martinez’s side had a below par start to the ongoing 2011/12 Barclays Premier League campaign. Wigan Athletic have recorded just one victory thus far, which came against Queens Park http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rangers-c40314 last month.
However, the Latics have lost their last three league fixtures that also includes a recent home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Moreover, Wigan also crashed out of the Carling Cup after suffering a shock defeat to League one side Crystal Palace in third round of the competition.
Despite the poor run of form, Martinez is adamant that he has a better squad this season and is confident that the players will improve as the campaign wears on.
When asked whether Wigan Athletic are weaker without Charles N’Zogbia and Tom Cleverley, the Latics boss answered, “I wouldn’t agree with that. We’ve replaced them with people from the football club.”
Moreover, Martinez has defended his decision of not spending money to replace the outgoing players during the summer. The Spaniard told the reporters, “We could replace people on the transfer market but that’s not the way we want to work. I think we need
to work with a longer term ambition.”
Wigan Athletic are currently placed 15th in the Barclays Premier League standings with five points to their credit from six matches. The Latics will be aiming to mark their first away win of the current season when they play Aston Villa at Villa
Park next weekend.
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