Roberto Martinez misses Everton training as players anticipate under-fire manager's sacking after Premier League slump
By
MATT LAWTON
PUBLISHED: 21:03 EST, 12 May 2016 | UPDATED: 21:04 EST, 12 May 2016
Everton's players concluded on Thursday morning that they have lost their manager after Roberto Martinez did not show at the club training ground.
A club spokesman insisted a decision has not yet been reached on the future of the Spaniard and stressed that no training session was scheduled after Wednesday night's defeat at Sunderland.
But the fact that Martinez was not in his office, as expected, has certainly led the players to believe his tenure at Goodison Park is rapidly drawing to a close.
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Roberto Martinez, alone, downcast, arms tightly-crossed, his default position as Everton's season unravelled
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Martinez spins on his heels in frustration during Everton's tame surrender at Sunderland on Wednesday night
Everton's miserable season hit a new low when they were comfortably brushed aside 3-0 by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Following that defeat at the hands of the Premier League;s 17th placed side Martinez remained defiant about his future - and claimed the side's FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester United had hit the club hard.
Asked if he believed he retained his players' support the former Wigan boss said: '100 per cent - I know the players gave everything they have.'
'Since the FA Cup semi-final it has been difficult for us to get that belief and intensity in the league and Sunderland were the opposite - a fully focused team who created a good momentum because they were close to finishing the job.
'We were a little bit pedestrian but I thought the effort and intent was there in a very competitive game.
'It was a very tough result for us to take. We kept pushing and creating chances and in the latter stages of the game we hit the post and the bar and we didn't get anything.
'Overall we fought for every ball and we put in a lot of effort, but Sunderland scored the goals.'
More to follow.
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