Regardless of his spectacular early-season type and the continuing reward he receives, Inigo Martinez stays centered on his function at Barcelona.
Having confronted robust occasions in recent times, he has developed a robust mentality, which has now helped him emerge as a key participant in Hansi Flick’s squad.
The defender has embraced the membership’s high-risk, high-reward type of play and is decided to make an enduring impression as a Barça defender.
His ambitions have been revealed in a current interview with SPORT the place the veteran defender shared his ideas on a number of topics.
First impression of Hansi Flick
Inigo Martinez explains what Hansi Flick calls for. (Picture by Pedro Salado/Getty Photographs)
In his first interactions with Flick, Martinez felt valued and trusted by the supervisor, which gave him a robust basis to construct upon.
“Flick, from the start, when he noticed me, all the time gave me that confidence, that I felt like certainly one of them. He actually had a contract nonetheless within the first staff,” he started saying.
This sense of confidence solely grew as he showcased his abilities in the course of the staff’s preseason in the USA.
“Then I had the chance to point out in the USA what I might give to this staff and from there, little by little, you get stronger and I’m nonetheless right here.
Martinez believes that Flick’s clear tactical imaginative and prescient has been instrumental in serving to the staff carry out cohesively, even within the face of defensive challenges.
His foremost job, as Flick emphasises, is to guide the again line with depth and focus, making certain that Barça’s daring, excessive line of defense holds agency.
“To us, above all, the depth within the sport is to be concentrated at 200%. To the again line, to boss the forwards. We’re those who maintain the staff again there.
“It’s a job that appears simple, however due to our type, with the road so excessive up, typically it’s laborious. It’s important to be very centered all through the sport.”
Excessive line of defense
Martinez explains the high-defensive line. (Picture by Pedro Salado/Getty Photographs)
Taking part in in such a excessive line requires braveness, and Martinez acknowledges that it comes with its share of dangers, particularly towards quick strikers.
“Flick, from the second he arrived, was clear about how he wished us to play. Ultimately, even taking dangers, I feel it provides us extra advantages than the rest. So, we proceed with our philosophy and our thought,” he mentioned.
However, he feels that the staff’s type of aggressively urgent opponents excessive up the pitch has yielded extra advantages than setbacks.
With a well-coordinated again line, Martinez and his teammates have managed to catch many attackers offside, disrupting their stream and holding Barça on the entrance foot. Regardless of the challenges, Martinez believes this tactical method is well worth the effort.
“When you’ve gotten quick strikers who understand how you play and you may see 50 meters behind you, in fact, you undergo.
“It’s not simple, however when the again 4 play properly collectively like that, you possibly can make certain that 9 occasions out of 10 they’ll be offside. So we take dangers, it’s the best way we play. We’re doing properly and that’s the best way we’ll proceed,” he defined.
The veteran defender defined additional that so far as defensive consciousness is worried, Alejandro Balde is essentially the most absent-minded participant and so is Jules Kounde.
“Balde is essentially the most absent-minded of all of the again line, though Jules can also be absent-minded every so often, however properly, he’s so much additional away from me than Balde and it’s true that he often has to place up with me so much in the course of the sport.”
Relationship with Cubarsi and different children
Inigo Martinez was actually comfortable to see Gavi’s return. (Picture by David Ramos/Getty Photographs)
Martinez shares a stable rapport with fellow defenders, particularly teen Pau Cubarsi, whom he sees as a devoted learner with immense potential.
“You possibly can see it from the primary sport. Though he couldn’t be within the preseason, he’s a participant who likes to be taught, attends and has a few years forward of him, many lovely experiences and I hope we each proceed to take pleasure in.”
He additionally recognises the distinctive skills of different teammates like Gavi and Lamine Yamal. Seeing Gavi return from harm was a particular second for Martinez, understanding how a lot it meant to the younger midfielder after an extended restoration interval.
“Simply as all of us rejoice. It’s true that I lived it very shut as a result of I needed to be with him on the time of the harm and I understand how a lot it mattered to Gavi to be out for thus lengthy.
“He’s a participant who solely desires to play, and benefit from the ball and that second was very troublesome for him and seeing him again, not just for me, however for all of the spectators and teammates, was an immense pleasure.”
As for Yamal, Martinez views him as a uncommon expertise, able to altering video games and persistently creating alternatives for the staff.
“Lamine is a differential participant, a participant you hardly ever see and having him with us is a pleasure. He isn’t shaky, he has tempo, he generates probabilities and scores vital objectives.
“For us, he’s a basic participant, he nonetheless has an extended option to go and we hope he continues to enhance and that in the future we will see him carry a Ballon d’Or,” he mentioned.
Contractual scenario
Inigo Martinez will not be too fearful about his contract extension. (Picture by Angel Martinez/Getty Photographs)
Trying forward, Martinez stays centered on securing as a lot taking part in time as potential, which he hopes will activate an computerized one-year extension in his contract.
“My thought proper now could be to play as many video games as I can, that can make me get the plus one (additional 12 months) that I’ve.”
Slightly than stressing about his future, he’s merely devoted to contributing to the staff’s success. He considers each second at Barça a privilege, no matter what the long run holds.
“At all times with complete naturalness and normality, with out placing stress on myself and if it has to return, it’s going to come and if not, then hey, I’ll say that I’ve been in Barça for 2 fantastic years and that I’ve been in the very best staff on this planet.”
Who has impressed Martinez essentially the most?
As one of many extra skilled gamers within the squad, Martinez has additionally taken observe of the standout performances of youthful gamers like Marc Casado.
“Nicely, aside from Lamine, who we already noticed final 12 months what he can provide, I’d select Casado.”
Marc Casado has actually impressed Inigo Martinez. (Picture by David Ramos/Getty Photographs)
He’s significantly impressed with Casado’s improvement, as he has confirmed his talents on the pitch, incomes his place within the beginning lineup by way of dedication and laborious work.
“Final 12 months we didn’t have the chance to see him on the sphere so many video games to say, wow, what he brings to the staff. I feel he’s exhibiting the qualities, what he can provide and one other participant popping out of the youth academy.”
Exterior the membership, Martinez has a robust friendship with Athletic Membership’s Nico Williams. Nonetheless, he stays discreet relating to Nico’s profession selections, respecting his pal’s autonomy in making choices.
“Let’s see, when Nico’s title comes up so many occasions, properly, in the long run, it all the time will get to you, you get messages, you get all the things. However I’ve all the time stayed away, I feel these are choices that it’s a must to make alone.
“Whether or not to take the step or not, is as much as him. On this case, I don’t know if he actually had a proposal or not, so I can’t remark, but when he made the choice to remain there it’s as a result of he actually believed he needed to keep there,” he concluded.