Wigan Athletic powerhouse Paul Scharner has challenged his team mates to bounce back from Saturday’s heavy defeat to Liverpool when they face Everton on Saturday.
The Latics hauled themselves out of the drop zone the previous week with victory at Reading, but a Luis Suarez hat-trick guided Liverpool to a comprehensive win.
However, Scharner insists the defeat was just a one-off and challenged his team mates to prove it in Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final clash at Everton.
“I think the game was one of those rare events in a season when nothing goes your way,” he told the club website.
“We can’t use that as an excuse though and we’ll be making sure that in our next game we turn things around from this weekend.
“It’s absolutely disappointing because I think we picked up some self-confidence from the last game against Reading, but that was taken away in the first three minutes when they scored the first goal.
“Conceding three goals in 25 minutes just isn’t good enough and when you do that you’re always going to have a battle against a team like Liverpool.
“We must just get past this game and start up again against Everton in the FA Cup next weekend.”
The Austrian defender – on loan from Hamburg – believes the break from league action could well benefit the team too.
Victory at Goodison Park will earn the Latics an FA Cup semi-final place and a first visit to the new Wembley Stadium.
Their 2006 League Cup Final was played at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, meaning Wigan have not graced the turf at Wembley since winning the 1999 Auto Windscreens Shield.
“It’s a good situation to have to break up the league fixtures with what could be a very significant moment in the history of the club,” Scharner said.
“If we can play a good game at Goodison Park and get a victory there then we will be able to pick up our confidence again and bring it back to the league games.
“It’s vital that we prepare the best we can, not just for the Everton game but for every game from now until the end of the season.”
One player set to feature in Wigan’s battle for Premier League survival is Japanese international Ryo Miyaichi.
The Arsenal loanee played 45 minutes of Monday’s Under-21 defeat to Nottingham Forest – his first start since picking up a groin injury in November.
Image courtesy of Wigan Athletic via YouTube, with thanks.
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