Everton manager Roberto Martinez played down his side's top four hopes after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Aston Villa moved them up to fifth in the Premier League. Tottenham could only draw with Hull while Manchester United slumped to defeat against Stoke, helping the Toffees stay above their two rivals and move a point beind Liverpool in fourth. However, Martinez was cautious when asked about his team's chances of finishing in one of the Champions League places this season. Speaking in his post-match press interview, the Spaniard replied when asked if the Toffees could finish in the top four:
We understand the ups and downs in the league, we've performed really really well all season, we'll carry on doing the same thing - trying to add as many points as we can and then in the final third of the competition, when you have nine or ten games to go, then you can ask me that question because that is when you set your aims.
Everton came from a goal behind to beat the Villans after Leandro Bacuna had earlier given the visiting side a first-half lead. A close-ranged finish from Steven Naismith and a sublime free-kick from Kevin Mirallas completed the turnaround, as the Toffees moved five points ahead of defending champions United. The Merseyside club are also just one point behind fourth-placed derby rivals Liverpool and five adrift of third-placed Chelsea, though both have games in hand.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
