Barcelona's Inigo Martinez confirms Hansi Flick is dressing up and talking about Spain's absence
Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez had been talked about as perhaps the best centre-back in La Liga before the last international break, but he was not included in Luis de la Fuente's Spain squad, even when Pau Aston Villa's Torres is out with an injury. All the same, Martinez said he understood the decision.
Martinez was speaking after Barcelona dropped two points against Celta Vigo, and before taking on Brest in the Champions League. The 33-year-old more or less confirmed that the players had received a stern telling off from manager Hansi Flick after the game.
“It was a game that we had control of, and you let two vital points slip away. It's normal for the manager to feel angry, and the team, angry. These are things that happen in football, and we all win and lose together . Considering the minute it was and how the game was going, we let slip an important opportunity.”
The Basque defender admitted that he was enjoying himself a lot this year, and that Flick had played a key role in that.
“From the first minute, Hansi showed me that he wanted to see me and give me this opportunity. I didn't want to be there to be a nuisance if the manager doesn't want you or doesn't trust you. He gave me the opportunity in the pre-season, and when it ended, we saw that he wanted me as a starter.
“It is the work of someone who cannot be seen and who tries to fight for what is his. The manager has a lot of influence in this, because he has to give that confidence. We hope that things will go well, and that this year ends up winning titles”.
Everything indicates that Héctor Fort will start tomorrow. @fansjavimiguel pic.twitter.com/lWjq6xqAkq
— Barcacentre (@barcacentre) November 25, 2024
After being left out of the Spain squad by de la Fuente, Martinez was asked what he thought about it, and if he believed it was based on performance. The former defender of Athletic Club and Real Sociedad was quite optimistic about the matter.
“It's completely understandable. I'm 33 years old and the level of the young players is exceptional. It's not that it's a strange thing, it's the coach's decision, he's thinking about a younger team and he wants to give opportunities to those who they push. I don't feel that I should be outraged that he doesn't take me. I'm of a certain age and it's normal that the coach wants to see other players.
