ROBERTO Martinez has urged Hull City to embrace their role as underdogs if they are to follow in the footsteps of his Wigan Athletic side and create their own FA Cup final upset against Arsenal this weekend.
Martinez inflicted a 2-0 defeat on the Tigers as Everton boss on Sunday, but exactly 12 months earlier he was responsible for one of the great shocks in the competition's history as Wigan toppled Manchester City.
Ben Watson's injury-time header gave the Latics a famous 1-0 win over their big-spending neighbours and provided the Tigers with a blueprint to follow when targeting their own iconic moment this weekend.
Premier League giants Arsenal will begin as firm favourites to end a run of nine years without a trophy, having won their last six games against the Tigers, but Martinez insists anything is possible if Steve Bruce's men play without fear.
"I think the secret is to embrace the underdogs tag," said Martinez, following a 2-0 win for Everton that ended City's Premier League season on a low note.
"Sometimes you go and feel too much the underdog and give too much respect to your opponent. You could be beaten before you start.
"The reality is in a final if you could choose you want to be underdogs. It's a day for everyone at Hull to enjoy. It's a real achievement to get to the final."
City have already felt the burden of expectation themselves in this season's FA Cup. In a Wembley semi-final against League One side Sheffield United, the Tigers failed to make their favouritism show in a first half when they trailed twice despite a Yannick Sagbo equaliser.
A resounding second-half comeback eventually sealed their safe passage to the final, thanks to goals from Matty Fryatt, Tom Huddlestone, Stephen Quinn and David Meyler.
Martinez believes that experience will serve them well when back at Wembley this weekend and predicts a close contest at the end of a campaign which has regularly seen City mix it with the Premier League's big boys.
The Spaniard added: "Hull found it difficult at the semi because they were favourites. You can see them going to final as the opposite and I do expect Hull to perform well because of the flexibility the team has.
"Steve Bruce, over the last two years, has given the team real tactical know-how.
"If they can control the occasion Hull City have a fantastic opportunity. The reality is the pressure is on Arsenal, and you can't really beat being in that position."
