Nothing wrong with showing passion: Martinez

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has no problem if a bit of “Mediterranean passion” gets spilled on the touchlines at Manchester City on Monday.

Martinez was at Eastlands in midweek and saw City’s clash with Everton end in extraordinary circumstances with a confrontation between managers Roberto Mancini and David Moyes.

Mancini has since been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association but Martinez does not feel the incident got out of hand.

The Spaniard reckons Mancini was merely showing passion for the game, rather than losing his temper under pressure, and is looking forward to facing the Italian in the Barclays Premier League next week.

“We might get a bit of Mediterranean passion,” Martinez joked. “Maybe we will have to get the boxing gloves in just in case!

“It was clearly a reaction full of passion and full of determination from a manager with a winning mentality.

“But I never felt he lost control and everything was dealt with in good spirits after the game. I think there is nothing wrong with showing a bit of passion, a bit of determination to win a football match.

“Every other thing he did in the game he was in control of and he was very cool about it.

“But there were five minutes to go, the game was not going City’s way and he felt maybe a goal could bring his side back into the game. In that moment I can understand it.

“They sorted it out after the game and I am sure David Moyes and Roberto Mancini finished in good spirits.

“That is the important thing. You don’t want to take passion or respect out of the game. I think a happy balance was shown.”

Wigan make the short journey to the City of Manchester Stadium buoyed by a last-gasp win over Burnley last week that has given them breathing space above the relegation zone.

The Latics will also hope to add to City’s woe after Everton, in winning 2-0 on Wednesday, condemned them to their first home defeat of the season.

But they are again likely to be without playmaker Charles N’Zogbia, who is struggling to recover from a hip muscle tear.

Martinez said: “For Charlie it seems the game will come a little bit too early. We will have to reassess him and see when he can be available.

“But we are hopeful Emmerson Boyce will be able to train and be available and everyone else is fine and in good spirits.”

Boyce missed the Burnley clash with back and groin problems.