Season › 2014-15 › News Martinez impressed by three-goal Lukaku Lyndon Lloyd , 20 February, 15comments | Jump to most recent Roberto Martinez has spoken in glowing terms about the performance of Romelu Lukaku whose hat-trick capped a hugely impressive Everton win against Young Boys last night. The Belgian earned his first match ball in Everton colours on the back of an excellent all-round display that was tarnished only by the fact that he didn't manage to score from two more gilt-edged chances. Lukaku has struggled at times to impact games this season after sealing a £28m move to Goodison from Chelsea last summer but everything from his first touch and aerial prowess came together for a match-winning display as the Blues shattered the Swiss side's proud home record in the Europa League. Young Boys were unbeaten in seven successive European matches on the artificial turf at the Stade de Suisse but were 3-1 down by half-time as Martinez's men revelled in their return to Continental competition after a 12-week hiatus. Lukaku equalised in the 24th minute and then added two more goals after Seamus Coleman had slid in what would prove to be the winner shortly before the half-hour mark and the manager was proud of the his record signing's performance. "I thought Romelu was unstoppable at times," Martinez said in his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's clash with Leicester. "It wasn't just scoring the hat-trick; I think it's creating the chances that we created as a team and he was always in the right place... and he could easily have scored six. "He probably scored the hardest chances of all the good opportunities we created, but what pleased me was the responsibility he took. He led the line fantastically well and our good combination play in front of their goal was based around him and the chemistry around him with Steven Naismith and Ross Barkley really pleased me." Lukaku, meanwhile, was thrilled with the Blues' big win and he has high hopes that Everton can go far in the Europa League this season. "I think we are the best team in this compeition," the 21 year-old striker said while admitting that he probably should have scored five goal against Young Boys. "You can see it in our performances, we have only lost one time. The performances throughout the competition were brilliant so I think we don't have to be scared of other teams. "It is all about us and I think if we play at the tempo we play in the Premier League a lot of other teams won't be able to cope with it." Reader Comments (15) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Plato Stavrinos 1 Posted 20/02/2015 at 18:51:15 LetÂ’s now hope he gets the same service in the league...COYB Trevor Lynes 2 Posted 20/02/2015 at 19:07:51 If he fulfils his promise he could well be a future star. Both he and Barkley played well and lets hope that they both blossom and perform well for the rest of the season. Young Garbutt and Atsu also had decent cameos and these four plus Stones could develop into the nucleus of our future success. I just wish we could produce a Â’properÂ’ midfield schemer from our youngsters to complement our strike force. Nationally we do not seem to produce top class schemers. Not since Scholes anyway. Tony Abrahams 3 Posted 20/02/2015 at 20:06:30 Talks too much, Lukaku... but I'm made up with what he's said about us being the best team, and winning this competition. It usually backfires when you talk like this, but the biggest thing lacking this season has been momentum and confidence, so wouldn't it be great to find both of them now.I don't know if it was because the opposition were ring rusty, but it's a long time since Everton conceded first and I wasn't that concerned. This was because of the way we had started the match, very much on the front foot, and we also ended it the same way, even though we were then a man down.I too was impressed by Lukaku, but not nearly as much as I was impressed by the whole team, and last night's performance just highlighted why the manager has taken so much stick this season. Dave Abrahams 4 Posted 20/02/2015 at 21:14:30 Trevor (#2), early days but there is a young lad in the youth team with good ball control and dribbling skills, a little bit of niggle about him, looks okay. Liam Walsh is his name, I'll be looking out for him in the future. He was substituted last time I saw him which I thought was unfair on him. Because he is in the youth team, I don't know how old he is, could be 16 or 18 but he has something good about him. Andy Meighan 5 Posted 20/02/2015 at 21:11:31 I've been his biggest critic this season, and with some justification, but last night – okay, against supposedly inferior opposition – he was immense. And I honestly think playing a far better side than Young Boys wouldn't have made a difference, the mood he was in. He led the line brilliantly, brought others into play brilliantly, but sweetest of all, took his goals brilliantly; the 3rd was sublime but I thought the header was the best. Deft but brilliantly placed and it did rather beg the question why the hell hasn't he done that all season? Still, he hasn't had service like that. I think, because of the fee and the way he performed for the majority of last season, we were all desperate for him to be this superstar striker we've been lacking. Unfortunately, it hasn't worked out that way. The reasons? Well I wish I knew... but all hasn't been well on the good ship Everton. But here's a strange one and I don't know if anyone might agree with this but, haven't our fortunes changed since one Samuel Eto'o went? What have we lost? One game... and unluckily, so now there's a coincidence... Paul Dark 6 Posted 20/02/2015 at 21:45:20 Lukaku is a tremendous talent.He should apologise for his previous comments. We are a bigger club than Chelsea, anyway. Ste Rowe 7 Posted 20/02/2015 at 23:07:57 Let's see what happens on Sunday to see whether it was inferior opposition or we are starting to step up are game because Leicester need to win too. From what I watched on Sunday, they like to attack and leave a bit of space at the back. Tony Farrell 8 Posted 20/02/2015 at 23:21:14 The criticism that Lukaku, the manager, and the whole team have received over the past weeks has been totally justified. We needed a reaction and we got it. I only hope were not going to be another Fulham. They were great in this competition, went to the final, but their Premier League form was shite. Let's carry this result into Sunday and for the rest of the season, make sure we're safe, then concentrate on the Europa League. Let's face it, it gets tougher from now on. This season has been a nightmare... let's get something out of nothing. James Marshall 9 Posted 21/02/2015 at 07:44:58 All this stuff about being a big club, or bigger than Chelsea etc... What does it matter? My Dad's bigger than your Dad! Ridiculous supporter comments from all clubs. People are obsessed with it for no good reason. Paul Andrews 11 Posted 21/02/2015 at 08:52:33 His all round performance impressed me more than the goals. He looked a real centre forward on Thursday. His hold up play, and the headers he won were fantastic. Glen Garrett 12 Posted 21/02/2015 at 10:26:46 To those of you who go on about what club is bigger than the other when it comes down to the history of things with regard to winning titles and other silverware, Everton lie 4th in that respect. The only clubs that are bigger than Everton in that regard are Manchester United (1st) then Liverpool (2nd), with Arsenal (3rd). That's history over all but, as far as today's football goes, Everton need to try and get back to the winning ways of the eighties and get a few more titles & silverware.All this talk about Everton being a bigger club than Chelsea is crap. As far as history is concerned, yes, Everton are a much bigger club than Chelsea & Manchester City... but, since the start of the Premier League, Everton have a very long way to catching up with Chelsea & Manchester City.If Everton don't start winning titles and cups again then, as far as history will be concerned, I can see the likes of Chelsea & Manchester City overtaking Everton in that respect too in years to come (because they have money) and the best top players are going to those clubs because they can pay their big fuck-off wages.Money has ruined football; players are not playing for the clubs they really want to play for because money takes them elsewhere. Roman Sidey 13 Posted 21/02/2015 at 13:47:05 Perfect response after his words about his future – words of which I think people have taken far too personally. His problems with first touch and offside are things the coaching staff need to be addressing and fixing. They aren't innate skills. I may be in the minority, but I don't see our players becoming better players with the likes of Duncan Ferguson coaching them. Fair enough, the best footballers don't always make great coaches, but Lukaku has nearly scored as many goals as Big Dunc ever did already. Truly average scorer of goals. Amit Vithlani 14 Posted 21/02/2015 at 18:03:12 Roman I suggest you go on YouTube and check out Duncan's finishing. He was a very good finisher with head and feet. If it's his goal scoring record you are questioning, a quick perusal of his statistics shows he scored 70-odd goals for us in 190 starts. That's is 1 goal every 2.7 starts. The Yak, widely acknowledged as a top finisher, had a record of 1 goal every 2.6 starts. So Duncan's record is not too shabby either.Now he might not be a very good coach, but neither you nor I can know that unless you have the inside track at Finch Farm. However, you questioned Dunc's coaching abilities on the strength of his statistical record. For Everton at least, this is a touch harsh.What the comparison does however show is that Lukaku has a very very good goalscoring record already. Since 2012-13 only Van Persie, Aguero and Suarez have scored more, according to an article on football365. Harold Matthews 15 Posted 22/02/2015 at 11:35:07 Still a big awkward lad but always a goal threat. Mark Burrage 16 Posted 22/02/2015 at 12:40:56 Please... It is hit and miss whether he can run with the football... his first touch is shocking. 2nd touch is generally a tackle. What I have seen of Kone, he holds the ball up far better and works harder. I think he deserves a shot! Won't get one though because of the 28 million tag on Lukaku. Off load him to a "big club" in the summer. 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