Manchester City 3 Everton 1: Roberto Martinez fumes over Kevin De Bruyne goal with ball 'clearly' out of play

De Bruyne was on hand to score the controversial goal

Roberto Martinez reacts on the touchline (Getty Images)

Roberto Martinez accused referee Martin Atkinson of failing to make the ‘clear call’ that denied Everton a place at Wembley after seeing Kevin De Bruyne score the decisive goal in the Capital One Cup semi-final after the ball had gone out of play.

De Bruyne, who suffered a knee injury in the closing stages of the game, converted Raheem Sterling’s cross after the England winger had overrun the ball before crossing into the penalty area.

The Belgian midfielder’s goal levelled the semi-final tie on aggregate before his cross for Sergio Aguero led to the Argentine forward heading the winning goal.

But Everton manager Martinez insisted that Atkinson’s failure to spot the ball crossing the touchline for City's goal was the crucial moment of the two-legged tie.

“It is a very hurtful way to not go the final step and get to Wembley,” Martinez said. “Referees have the toughest job in football, but there are some clear decisions.

“When the ball is out of play, in the modern game, you don’t expect it to be missed and I would expect a top referee to make sure he got his angle right to be able to make the decision.

“It’s a major blow to our feelings and our chances of getting through.

"Everyone that has seen the replay can clearly see the ball is out of play. The tie was a real good football game. You don’t expect to concede a goal in that manner. It's very, very hard to take.

Replays showed the ball was out of play before Sterling cross (Sky Sports)

"City are a very good side. If they score three goals in the right way then you accept it.

“The first goal was a deflected shot, but the second goal the ball was clearly out before it was crossed in.

"We have a very good group of young players and they will know how painful it is to lose today and it will give us that extra push to achieve things.”

Despite the manner of Everton’s semi-final exit, which denies the club a final appearance against Liverpool at Wembley, Martinez insisted that his players can take positives from the defeat.

“There are different ways to analyse the performance,” Martinez said. We faced a good Manchester City over two.

“You feel so hurt, with lots of decisions not going in our favour that affect us too much, but then we deserve credit for the way we faced this City team over two legs.

“We went to eye to eye with them and we should use this to make our season count.”