Martinez: Baines is playing the best that he ever has
Everton manager Roberto Martinez has praised the performances of Leighton Baines this season and reckons that this is the best that the left-back has ever played.
Bainesy has been in top form and created Evertons first goal for Samuel Eto’o at Turf Moor against Burnley yesterday and is on course to beat the record for assists by a defender held by Graeme Le Saux. (He needs 2 more)
“Leighton has been at this level for a while now,” Martinez told evertontv.
“It would be very harsh today to highlight one player because when you come to Turf Moor you have to have a team performance and I thought we had that. Even when the players came on, they picked up the tempo and helped straight away.
“But Leighton Baines in the last month – maybe even since the start of the season – has had the best performances of his career.
“It’s pleasing and exciting to see him playing at that level.”
“The reason we haven’t got more points in the table is because defensively we were not at our best early on in the season,” added Martinez.
“That’s something rare because it’s in our DNA to be very good defensively. Sometimes there is nothing you can do because you need a bit of luck – you can have a deflected shot that can either go into the top of the stand or the top corner.
“We are through that period. The players accepted it and wanted to work hard, and the result is three performances that were solid.”
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