critics to claim his team are underachieving as they are still
a work in progress.
The Toffees are 12th in the Premier League, having won just
six games so far this season, and were knocked out of the
League Cup by Manchester City on Wednesday.
With European qualification through the league now looking
unlikely, Everton travel to Carlisle United in the fourth round
of the FA Cup looking for another route into the Europa
League.
But Martinez told reporters on Friday: "You cannot be
underachieving when this team is new.
"This team has been formed over the last two-and-a-half
years and we are developing something that is going to be
very powerful for the future.
"That process is not going to be overnight or
straightforward. You need to go through painful experiences
to develop the know-how of a winning team.
"In my eyes we have one of the most competitive squads in
the league with four or five players with the best potential in
Europe and that has been down to a clear strategy.
"We have achieved this squad not having the blank cheque
of £500 million, which other clubs have had to become a
competitive team overnight."
Martinez believes Everton are not far from challenging for a
Champions League place and says he is happy to take
responsibility for his team's current position in the table.
"It would be very easy for us to say we can't really compete
against the top four, accept where we are and fight every
short-term target," he said.
"But we have an overall approach of wanting to get into the
top four and we are showing signs we are starting to do
that.
"As a manager you need to accept that we need to get wins.
I will never come out with excuses and try to justify lack of
wins.
"I feel we are close to getting what the fans deserve but I
will accept any criticism and I will be the one fronting that. I
share their frustrations at a lack of wins, but I am the first
one who has a strong belief we will be successful at the end
of it."
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