The Spaniard has faced increasingly-vocal opposition from some of the club’s supporters in recent weeks and Everton host Bournemouth on Saturday without a win in seven games.
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“From our perspective, I can assure you we are training the players as hard as ever”, Howe said.
Martinez said: “I always have a very clear and constant communication with the board, but the focus now is to try to regroup, to try to get through this pain”.
Stoke have lost their last three matches and are without a win in the Premier League since March. “It’s no good going through the motions – we need to show the intensity, drive and quality in the next four games”.
“But it shouldn’t be scrutiny of the last two months or three months”.
“He was involved with the first-team (squad) earlier in the season but picked up an injury and I feel he’s ready now to be given an opportunity in the first team”.
Martinez has come under fire for his style of play – something he was lauded for in his first season which accrued a club-record Premier League points tally – contributing to them dropping points from winning positions.
I am more capable now to find those final adjustments to make us better, to make us a team that can compete as well at home as we have away.
Fans have grown frustrated by poor results – particularly at Goodison Park – and the performance of Martinez, who replaced David Moyes in the summer of 2013.
“The message (to the fans) is we are all hurting together”.
Hibbert’s opposite full-back Baines made the final, critical difference, shooting high into the net when unmarked at the back post after 64 minutes before Everton held on in a fractious, disjointed and entirely joyless finish.
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Martinez confirmed that the injured trio of Phil Jagielka, Seamus Coleman and Gareth Barry would miss the visit of 14th-placed Bournemouth, along with suspended defender Ramiro Funes Mori. Jags got through the semi-final when he had no right to. Gradel missed the home defeat to Chelsea with the calf problem that saw him withdrawn during the previous game against Liverpool but the forward has improved this week and could return to contention.
