Roberto Martinez eyeing top four spot for Everton at Chelsea's expense



Martinez wants to capitalise on Chelsea's failings and gatecrash the top four



EVERTON manager Roberto Martinez believes Chelsea's faltering form has provided a chink of light for clubs seeking to gatecrash the top four.

 

Martinez name checked today's opponents West Ham - and Leicester - as the most impressive sides to emerge in the Premier League's opening stretch and considers both rivals for a coveted Champions League berth.

He said: "With the poor start of Chelsea, it has opened up one position in that top four.

"If Chelsea would have had 23, 24, 25 points it would have been very difficult to see light at the end of that top four. Now, with the way West Ham and Leicester have started, it's very significant how good those two teams are.

 

"Obviously you have teams like Spurs and Liverpool who will be trying to push into those positions. But West Ham have impressed me. They have got a big team mentality."

Slaven Bilic needs no reminding of the threat possessed by Romelu Lukaku - the Belgian striker who has scored in each of his six appearances against his West Ham side.

 

He added: "That record only proves how good he is as a player.

"Lukaku's a top striker and gets assists. That's why they paid all that money for him."