Inigo Martinez talks Barcelona form, Xavi, Lewandowski, Yamal, Spain NT: “It’s about winning together”

After a rather slow start to life as a Barcelona player due to injuries, Inigo Martinez has come into his own in recent matches.

Indeed, the 32-year-old defender has been one of the Blaugrana’s better performers in recent matches even when results have not entirely gone the team’s way.

A key member of Xavi’s setup now, Martinez even forced his way back into the Spanish national team on the back of his solid performances recently.

Sitting down for an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Martinez discussed several topics including his and Barcelona’s recent form, the pressure on manager Xavi and his return to the Spain national team fold.

On him being in a great moment currently: “I’m fine, physically I feel good, the injury is behind me and I’m looking forward to it. I want to play more, to play, to win games, which is what really makes a footballer happy.

“Now it’s my turn with the national team, where I’m very happy to be able to contribute and if I get the chance, I’ll try to make the most of it.”

On Spain recall and the possibility of playing in the Euros: “All of us who come here think about being able to play in these tournaments that we want so much.

“The chances are usually few, so to see yourself here and have these opportunities to show the coach that he can count on you for these big events, you have to make the most of it. Now it gives me another opportunity after a long time without coming here.”

On his run of form for Barcelona and Xavi’s backing: “I feel good. It also helps that the coach is backing me and giving me minutes. You go into the game with a different feeling, you free yourself up. It was difficult for me at the start because I was coming off a long injury and it’s not easy to join Barcelona.

“I knew that from the first moment I signed. Little by little, I tried to take advantage of the opportunities that the coach gave me. The first game against Mallorca was not very good, but then against Athletic, I played a great game.

“From then on I played practically everything except for Shakhtar, trying to make the most of the opportunities to keep playing. From the first minute, he counted on me and that makes things easier.”

On the frustrations of being injured when he joined: “It’s hard to see yourself training on the sidelines, to see that the injury is not progressing. These are hard moments for a player, even more so when you are in a big team, when there is total competition. Even more so in my position. Jules, Christensen, and Araujo are doing great.

“They have been together for years. I knew it was going to be difficult to get in. I kept at it, training at my best, waiting for the opportunity, thinking positive. That has brought me to be a starter and now the hardest thing is to stay there. That’s my objective.”

On Barcelona’s recent performances: “When you win 5-0, nobody remembers the defender. One day you’re up and one day you’re down. Obviously, the game is not all good, but we are getting the results. It’s very important to win games when the team isn’t doing well on the ball.

“We’re finding it hard to create chances, to score… and they’re hurting us at the drop of a hat. But these are moments when we have to pull together, push hard, and want more. The aim is to improve these small mistakes that are costing us dearly and turn the situation around.”

On the team’s outing and discussion after the Shakhtar defeat: “These meals and talks also happen when things are going well. It’s not that because things are going badly, we go to dinner to bond as a group. The team is united, well. We all support each other and I can tell you that there is a very good atmosphere in the dressing room.

“That’s the unity of the group, that’s what’s going to win you titles. We focus on what’s important to us, leaving aside any criticisms that may be made. Always being self-critical and trying to improve, both when we are bad and when we are good. You always have to want more.”

On Xavi’s words about criticism from the press impacting players: “We are already a bit used to it. Not only at Barcelona, eh? There will always be criticism and we have to know how to deal with it and make ourselves strong inside. We have no doubt that the fans will be with us, so we have to do our job, forgetting the rest.

“We know the potential we have within the team and what we are capable of doing. From there, we will go to enjoy the football and play our game in the best possible way to win games. That’s what is required of us, to win to win titles.”

On the media attention at Barcelona: “A little bit, you always imagine it. They always talk about Barcelona or Real Madrid. It seems like there is no other team in La Liga. Whenever I’ve been in Bilbao or San Sebastian, you know that the spotlight is on them, but when you arrive and see all this at first it’s a shock and can seem exaggerated.

“I’m handling it well. I’ve dealt with the criticism well and now what we have to do is turn the situation around, doing things better. We are the first to know what we have to do and that is the objective of the group.”

On him being a leader in the dressing room: “I’ve been at this level for many years and I’ve experienced a lot of things like this. I can bring a lot to the team and it’s important to help the 16, 17, 18-year-olds….

“They are very young, they still have a long way to go, and we have to support them because they are the ones who can suffer the most. The team is good, happy, there is a great atmosphere, exceptional, and that will never change.”

On the recent incident involving Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal: “I think he has already come out and explained himself. At the end of the day, there are moments in the match when you can get heated.

“Just like I can say it to the guy next to me or I can complain to someone else. They are moments in the match. From the outside, it’s a bit morbid, but we’re used to this kind of thing.”

On fingers being pointed at Xavi: “The team will always be with him. He’s a great coach, he’s been proving it for years. He has given a lot as a player and now as a coach to Barcelona. It’s not because he’s had two bad games that he’s the worst.

“Xavi has more than proved that he has the talent for that and much more. We will always support him and he will always support us. This is a team and it’s about winning together. It’s about being together, united, and even more so in these moments when the team’s play is not at its best.”