Inigo Martinez is having a season to recollect. After an detached debut season at Barcelona, the veteran defender has turn into the lynchpin of the Barça backline beneath the management of Hansi Flick.
Martinez has constructed a formidable partnership alongside Pau Cubarsi and the duo has managed to maintain out opposition assaults fairly effectively, notably conserving a clear sheet towards Actual Madrid final weekend.
Inigo Martinez opens up on Flick
Nonetheless, Martinez’s destiny might have gone down fairly in a different way if he didn’t have the assist of Flick.
In a latest interview with TV3 (h/t MARCA), the defender opened up about how he was going via a tricky time in the summertime, but it surely was the assist from Flick that modified all the things.
“The supervisor advised me that I used to be his first alternative. He gave me numerous confidence from the primary minute,” Martinez stated.
Martinez has been excellent this season (Photograph by David Ramos/Getty Photographs)
Recalling his tough summer season, he added, “You come to coaching, you don’t know in the event that they’re going to allow you to join or not, I’ve youngsters – speculating with out realizing the place you’ll be, it wasn’t simple for anybody.”
At 33, Martinez is among the many oldest gamers at Barcelona. He’s, the truth is, the second oldest common starter for Barcelona after Robert Lewandowski.
“Being 33 and taking part in repeatedly shouldn’t be simple. I attempt to benefit from all of the alternatives that come my method. So a few years taking part in within the first division and successful titles can be a reward for the work completed,” he stated.
Lastly, Martinez highlighted how difficult it may be to function in a excessive defensive position, which Flick espouses at Barcelona.
“These up entrance get pleasure from it, these behind undergo. A mistake from you turns right into a aim. If you’re already 3-1, 4-1 up, you calm down a bit,” he concluded.