For much of this season already, FC Barcelona has shown a special kind of faith in their developing youngsters. Overlooking the fact that they have also possibly been forced into such a position, La Blaugrana have continuously backed their young players to succeed. However, the same kind of appreciation at Barcelona is rarely seen going towards the more seasoned players.
Robert Lewandowski, for instance, is an example of a veteran player who has been revived under Hansi Flick this season. The Polish ace, currently enjoying a run of form where goals are just pouring down whenever he touches the ball, is one such case where Hansi Flick’s input has changed everything for the player.
However, the former Bayern Munich striker is not the only veteran in the team who is enjoying the coaching of Hansi Flick. Even apart from him, as highlighted by SPORT, 33-year-old Spanish defender Inigo Martinez is another player who has essentially been given a second life of sorts this season.
Beyond just the fact that his continuity in the team has been absolute so far this season, Martinez is also performing at a level that is a new ceiling for him. Even apart from the eye test and the overall success that Barcelona is enjoying with him in the backline, a few notable things make him as crucial to the team as he currently is.
His leadership
By allowing Martinez to act as the leader in the backline, a role that Flick reportedly believes the Spaniard is right for, there has been a lot more cohesion and connectivity amongst the Barcelona defensive line. One specific and concrete proof of this is the team’s exceptional high-line coordination, a tactic that has helped Barcelona become the team that most regularly catches their opponents in offside positions this season.
Simultaneously, while he is on the pitch, a player who benefits a lot from his presence directly is Pau Cubarsi. The young Barcelona defender almost always plays like a veteran when he is alongside Martinez, and that goes on to show the brilliant synergy and chemistry between the two players at the back.
His passing and vision
For a defender, Inigo Martinez possesses extraordinary ball-playing abilities. So far in La Liga, he leads defenders when it comes to passing overall. Having attempted 852 passes across 10 games this season, 785 of them being successful ones, he has amassed a 92.13% passing accuracy.
At the same time, those passes include his ever-dangerous long balls as well. Through these long and direct passes, the Spaniard has managed to often slice through opponents and send the Barcelona forwards on promising runs that often end up hurting the opposition.
For now, Martinez continues to retain his place as a starter for Barcelona. It remains to be seen what will happen once the likes of Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen return from their respective injuries, but the former Athletic Club man has more than earned his right to keep starting for Hansi Flick’s team.
