Roberto Martinez reveals top four vital for Everton to hold on to their top talent

Ross Barkley is one of those Martinez fears could leave Everton if they don't challenge

ROBERTO MARTINEZ has admitted Everton must challenge for the Champions League this season or run the risk of their golden crop of talent fragmenting.

 

The Everton manager did little to disguise the importance of the club pushing for a top four place in order to bolster hopes of keeping the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Ross Barkley and John Stones.

“There are two things that can keep a player happy,” said Martinez. 

“One is that he’s got a stimulation to become better and he can see that he’s growing every day and the other is to be in the best leagues and the best competitions.

 

“So you have to get into the Champions League. That’s the top and bottom of it. That’s why sometimes you have to set a season where everyone invests into the team and then see where that can take you.

“That’s what we’re doing now.

“We’ve worked really hard over the last two and a half years to have the squad that we have now. I’m not saying that just because of the big financial investment we had in players like Romelu Lukaku.

“It’s also the investment we have made in giving players time to develop. That’s players like Barkley, Deulofeu and Stones.

 

Martinez believes he can convince Lukaku to stay if Everton get Champions League football

“Now you see that they’re big players with big roles in the team. I’m talking about creating a squad which isn’t just about finances, it’s also about manpower, focus and concentration and giving responsibility to inexperienced players and now I feel that this season we have to get the benefits of that.”

Everton host bottom club Aston Villa with their progress over the coming months set to determine whether they are an emerging squad or on the brink of breaking up.

Martinez – who could have both Tom Cleverley and Leighton Baines back after injury – welcomes the pressure. 

 

“We’re Everton,” he said. “With the history we have that’s what we want and that’s the feeling that I want every player to have – that we’ve got that responsibility. 

“We can’t just go through the motions and finish the season looking good. We have to achieve. But I think now we’ve got the tools and the mentality to be as good as we can. 

“I feel we are getting stronger. Over the last five windows we have been getting stronger by adding numbers, options and quality players and young players that become important. 

“It comes to a point where we have to achieve and this season is very, very important for that.”