Everton

Roberto Martinez: 'We need to raise our intensity'

By Simon Sinclair, Reporter | 25 July 2015

Everton boss Roberto Martinez tells his side that they need to increase their intensity in their pre-season matches against Hearts and Dundee.

Everton boss Roberto Martinez has called on his side to "play with real intensity" ahead of the Premier League season.

The Toffees lost in the final of the Premier League Asia Trophy to Arsenal last week, but Martinez's men now face matches against Hearts and Dundee before they begin their top-flight campaign against Watford on August 8.

"It's going to be a case of trying to sharpen up and get 90 minutes under some of the players' belts," Martinez told the club's official website. "Some of the players got 90 minutes in Singapore, but they were probably in the less demanding positions.

"Others would get up to the 60-minute mark. It's now a case of trying to stretch that to 90 minutes - and in weather conditions that will be very similar to the ones we will face throughout the season. [Hearts and Dundee] play with real intensity and they are both very dynamic in their play.

"Again, staying together as a group so close to the start of the season just accentuates the period that we are in at the moment which is making sure that competition for places is sharper than ever. We're getting really, really close to hitting full levels before the game against Watford."

Everton face Hearts in their pre-season clash on Sunday.