Roberto Martinez’s reward for inspiring the latest chapter in Wigan’s great Barclays Premier League escape bid has been renewed speculation linking him with some of the biggest jobs in the game.
Two early goals from Victor Moses inspired a 4-0 rout of Newcastle, which steered the Latics closer to safety and added to the club’s remarkable recent lists of big-time conquests.
Martinez’s success has not gone unnoticed, with Tottenham the latest club to be linked with the Spaniard, while Latics chairman Dave Whelan admits he has what it takes to manage at the very top of the game.
Whelan told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek: “He is just a brilliant manager and he will get one of the top jobs in Europe.
“I don’t want to lose Roberto, but it is inevitable that he will climb the ladder.”
For now, Martinez remains entirely focused on Wigan’s bid for survival and he believes his side’s history of relegation scrapes could prove crucial heading into their last two games against Blackburn and Wolves.
Martinez said: “The experience we have had in the last few years probably helps. The players are very mature in terms of what they have been through, and that is a huge thing when you know what is in front of you.
“Blackburn is going to be a phenomenal occasion and we need points against Wolves because 37 is not going to be enough. These results are great but if we don’t achieve our aim they will mean nothing.”
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew paid tribute to a “brilliant” Wigan performance after seeing his own side’s Champions League hopes hit by a whirlwind start in which the hosts grabbed a 2-0 lead inside the first 15 minutes.
Moses had already brought a save out of Tim Krul before he headed a 12th minute opener from an Emmerson Boyce cross, and two minutes later he swept home after Fabricio Coloccini blundered over a Jean Beausejour cross.
It was an extraordinary start by the hosts and it just got better in the 36th minute when Franco Di Santo sent the excellent Shaun Maloney clear down the left and he cut inside to drill the third past Krul.
Wigan rounded off a scarcely believable half with a superb 25-metre strike from Di Santo in injury time, leaving Newcastle resigned to a defeat which will severely affect their hopes of a top-four finish.
Pardew said: “This has been a big setback, but my team always reacts well to setbacks. We failed as a team, not as individuals, and it’s important we go to Chelsea on Wednesday with an away game mentality.
“Sometimes when you’ve won six on the trot you come away from home and think, ‘we’ll win here today’ – even if you guard against complacency. That will put a shock into the players, and I expect a reaction.”
Pardew was heartened by his side’s fighting spirit in the second half, with Papiss Cisse looking sharp as he hit the woodwork twice – striking the bar just past the hour mark, then heading against the post 10 minutes later.
“I haven’t got any worries,” added Pardew.
“I know the intensity of our team will be there on Wednesday night and it is going to be a tough game for Chelsea bearing in mind they have got a cup final on Saturday.”
