RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesBarcelona defender fully embraces his new role in team: ‘At first my mind was torn between the two positions’
Gerard Martin’s conversion into a centre-back at FC Barcelona is no longer a temporary experiment but a fully established role.
So much so that the Barcelona defender admits he no longer thinks like a left-back, his natural position, and has completely shifted his mentality, movement and style of play to operating in central defence.
What started as an emergency solution from Hansi Flick has turned into what feels like a new signing for the La Liga champions.
The German coach has found a reliable option by making the most of Martin’s ability to defend large spaces and his composure in possession. It has proven to be the perfect solution without the need to enter the transfer market.
Martin has successfully transitioned into a centre-back. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Martín himself admits the positional switch has been a revelation and that he feels completely at home in the middle of the back line.
“I feel very comfortable,” he said in a recent interview, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo .
He also believes he has shown he can perform at the level required by the club.
“I think I competed at the level Barcelona demands,” he added.
The defender revealed that Flick’s confidence has been decisive in helping him adapt to his new role, saying:
“He wanted to try me there during pre-season and I feel very comfortable.”
Martin also made it clear that, in his own mind, he is now a centre-back, as he said:
“At first my mind was torn between the two positions because I kept switching, but now it’s completely focused there, at centre-back. I think I had a very good year, although I can always improve.”
The numbers back up his progress
Martin’s performances last season underline just how important he has become for Barcelona.
Relishing the challenge. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
He made more than 50 official appearances for the first team, establishing himself as one of the club’s most consistent defenders. In La Liga, he featured in 32 matches, starting 26 of them and accumulating more than 2,100 minutes on the pitch.
The Barcelona defender also acknowledged the demands that come with playing in central defence for a club of Barça’s stature.
“It’s quite demanding because you have to make as few mistakes as possible. Here, mistakes are punished.”
Despite the pressure that comes with the position, Martin insists he is embracing the challenge.
“I face the challenge without pressure,” he concluded.
Having rarely played as a centre-back before reaching the first team, Martin has fully embraced his new role. With Flick’s continued trust and his own growing confidence, he looks set to remain a key part of Barcelona’s defence moving forward.
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