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07th Jan 2016

Roberto Martinez: Gareth Barry is one of the greatest English footballers of all-time

Nooruddean Choudry

We’ll have what Roberto Martinez is drinking.

It’s all well and good bigging up one of your players after an important win, but go too far in your platitudes and it just comes across as taking the p*ss.

Everton take a vital 2-1 lead into the second leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final with Man City, following Wednesday night’s Goodison Park victory.

Tottenham Hotspur v Everton - Premier League : News Photo

But the result was overshadowed somewhat by the most ridiculously hyperbolic post-match comment by a clearly over-tired and emotional Martinez.

In his gushing praise of veteran midfielder Gareth Barry, the Toffees coach said the following:

“I have never seen a player with such an incredible professionalism as Gareth Barry…”

 “…Gareth is one of those players who gets underrated…”

“…The reason we have so many developing young players is there are leaders in the mould of Gareth Barry…”

“For me, he is one of the best English players ever.”