Gerard Martin opens up about his future, Flick’s trust, and lessons from last season | OneFootball

Barcelona defender Gerard Martin recently gave an in-depth interview to Mundo Deportivo, where he spoke openly about his ambitions, his role at Barça, and how he is preparing for the new season.

The full-back made it clear that his main goal is to keep growing as a player while helping Barcelona fight for every possible trophy.

“My aim is always the same—to improve on last year and continue developing,” Martin said. “On a team level, the challenge is obvious: try to win it all.”

Speaking on transfer rumours

When asked about the constant transfer market rumours, Martin didn’t hesitate. Despite the reports linking him with an exit this summer, the defender insists he’s happy at Barça and has no plans to leave.

“I don’t know if those stories are true. If they were, someone would have told me by now,” he explained. “I’m happy at Barcelona. I don’t want to go anywhere. As long as the coach and the club trust me, I can’t ask for more.”

Martin also discussed the competition for places in the squad, especially with names like Alejandro Grimaldo being linked to Barcelona.

“I’m calm about it,” he said. “Competition is part of football and helps everyone improve.”

Hansi Flick’s trust

One of the main reasons for Martin’s progress has been Hansi Flick. According to the defender, Flick’s belief in him has given him extra motivation.

“The coach trusts me, and that helps a lot,” Martin shared. “We’ve done video analysis together, and in training, he pushes me to give my best. During games, he asks me to be myself and stay focused.”

Hansi Flick played a crucial role in Gerard Martin’s progress. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

Martin revealed that growing up, he always looked up to Jordi Alba. “I’m from Cornella too, so watching Alba at Barça inspired me. He played in my position, and I’ve always been a fan.”

Reflecting on the Inter Milan game

Reflecting on last season, Martin pointed to the Champions League match against Inter Milan as one of his standout performances, even though the final result wasn’t in Barça’s favour.

“Personally, that game was one of my best,” he admitted. “Even though the team lost, I was satisfied with how I played. The match against Borussia Dortmund was another one I remember fondly.”

When asked about the controversial moment with Denzel Dumfries in that game, Martin was honest. “For me, it was a foul. I felt it on the pitch, and I’ve watched the replay many times since.

“I wanted to be sure of what I experienced in the moment, and I still believe it was a foul.”

He concluded that he saw the replay of the incident many times. “I watched the action a lot because I felt something on the field (the foul) that wasn’t called later, and I wanted to check if it was really what I’d felt. I got a little worried about that,” he concluded.