How Roberto Martinez's positive approach is working wonders for Everton
According to Sven Goran Erikksen “self-confidence is the most important thing of all." The
importance of self-belief may seem obvious to many of us when it comes to
succeeding in anything. Without confidence and belief we lack the faith in our abilities,
we may perceive obstacles in a negative way and accept defeat before we even
attempt to overcome a challenge. A lack of confidence is not conducive to
success, therefore the role of a coach, teacher or parent is to instil this
feeling of confidence and belief in their students and children. As this
article will discuss, the art of motivation may be the single most important
attribute of coaching,
Coaching courses are full of technical information, tactical
ideas and principles and endless drills and practices. The intention of which
is to teach and educate coaches about the ways and methods to improve their
players development and performance.
From a football perspective there are five
levels of qualification which takes coaches to the top of the coaching pathway.
Along this pathway the first time that I personally was introduced to the
importance of psychology and communication was on that final level, at the A
licence course.
Now being an avid learner and reader of books I had exposed
myself to the importance of communication prior to this. However, it is rather
startling to consider that if communication, persuasion and motivation are so
essential for player development, why is it not covered in the FA’s coaching
syllabus until the final rung of the ladder? Surely it should come first, as
communication underpins everything else.
You see, what you say and how you say
it can have a vast impact on players performance. Knowing what to say, when and
how can be the difference in positive or negative performance. To highlight
this let us look at Roberto Martinez at Everton and what he has brought to his
new club this season.
Everton's new man
When David Moyes agreed to join Man Utd at the end of last
season it was seen as a concern for Everton fans. Before he arrived Everton were looking more like relegation candidates. His positive influence on the club cannot be questioned. This is the man who for a
decade had kept the club battling in the top six consistently. Against clubs
with vastly more wealth he managed to keep Everton challenging near the top.
Post-Moyes the worry would be that Everton
would drop down the table as many were of the opinion that Moyes was over-achieving
with the club. When Roberto Martinez was the man selected to take over the
reigns there was some consternation from the fans and media. This was the man
who had just gotten Wigan relegated. How could he be the answer for Everton?
When Bill Kenwright made the rash and perhaps unnecessary statement that
Martinez had promised to get Everton Champions League football one could not
help but think he had already put a nail in Martinez’s coffin.
And yet hallway through
the season and Everton lie in fourth position in the Champions League places.
The points tally has been impressive, yet most impressive has the been the
manner of the performances, the style of play and the unquestionable belief
shown by the players team.
Success against the odds
While at Wigan many dismissed the talents of Martinez based
on his sides constant battle with relegation. Some questioned his ability and approach
to the Premier League as each season he was scraping survival. Many were
doubtful of his capabilities as a coach because of this, yet it was hard not to
be impressed with his desire and near stubbornness to play a progressive,
through the thirds style.
It appeared that no matter what setbacks his side
had, whether a huge loss or the sale of a star player, they continued to play
in the manner he desired. Last season he club achieved an astounding success of
winning the FA Cup, winning it in a manner which personified Martinez’s
beliefs. However that success would come at a cost for the club as they would finally
be relegated after eight years in the top flight.
Yet that length of time should
highlight how impressive a job the club have done. Look at the Championship and
you see some huge clubs striving to reach the Premier League. Then look at
Wigan and it makes little sense financially and with their fanbase to be in the
top league, yet alone for eight years.
They survived against the odds for such
a long period, and they did so because of belief and positivity. Their FA Cup
success was because of their positive approach and mentality. Martinez was
proving not only to be one of the most progressive and tactically astute
coaches in England but perhaps the most positive. And it is this mentality which
has sought to enhance the fortunes of Everton this season.
Moyes fear of Goliath
During his time at Everton David Moyes was often given a reprieve
by the media and the fans who saw his ‘success’ as a triumph for the small club
with little money in a world of financial powerhouses. He was David against
several Goliath’s.
His approach when facing the Goliath’s however was not
fitting of David, who overcame the might of Goliath. Moyes approach was a ‘run
and hide’, ‘get out as quickly as possible’ approach. That may be a bit unfair
but the results back up the issue Moyes had; in his 46 away league games
against the top four, spanning 11 years, Moyes did not win one game. That is
quite incredible really.
In his battles against Ferguson at United his famous
saying was "You want to get out of Old Trafford alive.” This sort of mentality
befitted a man who was rational and realistic to his situation. For him Everton
could not compete with the top sides, and this was okay.
Yet to coin the cliché,
‘football favours the brave’ and as Martinez proved last season he was able to
overcome Man City in the final, and play with more positivity, confidence and belief
than the current Premier League champions, of who were worth somewhat £200m. It
was not about money but confidence.
Moyes took his side into these arenas and
fed them on negativity, worry and fear. Is it a surprise they didn’t win?
Martinez’s approach is different and it is what makes you sit up and wonder how
far Everton can go with their new coach.
The eternal optimist
"We beat Fulham 4-1 the other day and he was annoyed because some of the players hadn't looked like they were enjoying themselves. Winning is not enough, he wants us to win with a smile on our face."
For Martinez he understands the constraints he had at Wigan
and now at Everton. Yet instead of looking at both situations with negativity,
he approaches these situations as challenges.
"I always believe that to achieve things you don't need
money. There are other ways to be successful,
but you need time. A large checkbook just enables you to accelerate the
process. In football, you can compete against anyone if you are tactical,
flexible, creative and have time to build."
It was little surprise that he went to Old Trafford and won.
In an interview a few months ago, before his success at United with Everton,
Martinez made the point, "Over the last 10 years we have not beaten
Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool at their grounds and we need
to address that. We need to make sure we are ourselves. We need to know how we
are going to play and who we are. We are excited about going to Old
Trafford."
His approach is not about ‘damage-limitation, or being happy to
get out alive, it is about being positive and progressive, "If you are
going to be brave and try to win games rather than just being in a position
where you want to keep a clean sheet and get through in damage-limitation
situations, then you need to be flexible as a player and as a team and play in
different ways in the modern game. That is the attitude we have had from the
beginning."
Martinez has been inspired by two of the most positive,
progressive and creative coaches in the modern game; his "tactical,
flexible and creative" footballing philosophy lie in his admiration for Johan
Cruyff and Marcelo Bielsa. Perhaps little coincidence that these are two of the
men who Pep Guardiola learnt from also. These coaches are visionaries, they
create new ideas and ways to play the game. They approach games with the
confidence to dominate, to play attacking football. It is what we are seeing
now with Everton.
Compare this to David Moyes at Everton and now United. His
approach always appeared to be from a defensive perspective. Sometimes his
side played some excellent attacking football but there was always caution with
his teams. He appeared happier to draw than go for the win, in case they would lose. This has been seen at United this season. And is perhaps why results went badly at the start, with United even conceding late goals, which appeared to be punishment for being cautious.
Under Ferguson there was a
philosophy to attack and dominate sides and their success was built from this.
The famous late goals were no fluke or coincidence either; Ferguson instilled a
never say die attitude with his players, a belief and confidence that they
could win games at the last. So many examples epitomise this character, perhaps
none more so than Bayern in the Champions League final in 1999. Belief and
confidence are what Ferguson built his success on.
Moyes is learning now that
this is what he needs to generate. His defensive first mentality may have
worked for Everton, yet United require more, the fans and players expect more.
Ironically he can learn from his successor at Everton.
A positive philosophy
"There
is a way I believe the game should be played that is pure and there is a
process of how to change the mentality of a team to make sure the players feel
confident enough to be in possession and dominant on the ball without losing
their current strengths."
Like his approach at Wigan he believes in approaching games
positively, for him why not lose games playing in a positive way than lose
playing negatively? It is this kind of mentality which garners belief in his
players. Yes they may lose but do it being positive.
It’s incredible the
influence which being positive can have on players, especially in defeat, as
positive reinforcement can help players deal more effectively and bounce back
quicker. A culture of negativity however breeds more negativity and this can be
often be seen when teams can through bad periods of results.
Although Everton did well under Moyes Martinez has sought to
change the mentality of the players, who were perhaps set too much in this
negative mindset. His challenge this season has been to ‘change’ the mindsets
of his players. Those who have done well under Moyes have been asked to give
more, to trust each other more, to have more belief.
Phil Jagielka is perhaps
the best example of what Martinez’s approach can do. He plays now with more
confidence and belief. He was good under Moyes, yet under Martinez he looks
like a top European ball playing defender. Amazing what a bit of confidence can
do.
As Martinez says, "The first thing you focus on is the
dressing room. You see the good and the bad, build a strategy to impact results
and become as strong as we can straight away.”
His long term aim is to develop and bring through more young
players, playing a more modern style. It is clear he is building something akin
to Bielsa’s 3-3-1-3 formation, using his ‘full backs’ as wingers with great
success. Yes he has benefited from the loan signings of Lukaku and Barry as well
as Delefeu yet has enhanced his midfield by selling the rigid Fellaini and
replacing him with the dynamic and modern midfielder James McCarthy (while
making £14m profit from it).
For Martinez his style of play is in-line with where
football is going. He wants and strives to have a side who can adapt, be
flexible. As Steven Pienaar says, “We have a squad that can adapt to anything.
That is something the manager is working really hard to promote. We tried to
play good football last season and the new manager actually hasn't tried to
change that much because the core of the team is still here. We've just tried
to be a bit more patient and not quite as direct.”
Yet the most important quotes from the Everton winger are in
regards to the manager’s approach and mentality, this is the key lesson of his management;
"The only demand the manager makes of us is to go out
and dominate a game. The work ethic of the team is unbelievable, though, and
the manager is always relaxed. He never really gets angry, just more positive.
Thinking about it, he might just be the most positive person I've ever come
across; he's definitely up there.”
The most positive person I’ve ever come across. That really
is a strong statement and it is evident that this approach is breeding the
confidence and belief which Martinez is striving for.
The power of positivity
is fundamental for success. It can be seen across all the great coaches of the
past and present; look at the character of men like Ferguson, Mourinho,
Guardiola and Klopp. They epitomise confidence and instil in their players this
kind of belief in themselves and what they are capable of achieving.
Martinez
may not be regarded in this elite list of coaches, however it may only be a
matter of time before he is. His reputation is growing and while there were those who were
dubious of his talents while at Wigan, it is hard to not to see them shining
through at Everton. Can he get that Champions League spot he promised? It is
possible. Yet what is for sure is that under Martinez Everton are more
confident to compete with anyone, and this may be the key for their progression
to the next level.
The Whitehouse Address @The_W_Address
References
- Steven Pienaar runs with Roberto Martínez's positivethinking at Everton
- Roberto Martinez reveling in Everton's challenge
- Everton should take positive approach to Manchester United,says Martínez
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