The importance of Iñigo Martínez in the FC Barcelona has increased of exponential way in the last weeks. His forcefulness, reading, changes of orientation and regularity have turned him into one of the most used players by Xavi Hernández in these last weeks. It was a personal bet of the egarense and is surpassing the expectations that had the club when him ficharon, like free agent, after finalising his agreement with the Athletic Club.
The Basque had a beginning of stage complicated by the fascitis plant that it forced him to go through the operating theatre during the summer and that forced him to be out of action until beginnings of September. reincorporó To the trainings and went in in the announcements, but did not finish of 'win' his place in the plans of Xavi. His performance against the Mallorca did not help him and seemed allocated to be a 'fixed' in the bench... But he same has commissioned to change and revolutionise his history.
The radical change of Iñigo Martínez
And it is that, since it was to title against the Athletic Club (1-0), has won a fixed place in the axis of the defence. It has added five consecutive headlines in LaLiga (450 minutes), while before only had added 93' in six clashes. In the Champions League (post- 'redebut') only rested against the Shakhtar in Hamburg. With 172' of action and a very good performance against the Port wine in the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Compannys. The difference and the impact is overwhelming.
His performance has carried him to win a fixed place in the XI and be one of the indisputable defenders for Xavi. 'SPORT' Has informed that only he and Ronald Araújo have a place ensured in the defensive saga. And it is not little thing, considering that the competition is with Andreas Christensen and, especially, with Jules Koundé. The trainer egarense knows that it is a player whose contribution is incalculable and that contributes further to try 'move away' to the rivals of the area of Marc-André ter Stegen.
Xavi has presented the 'new' defence of the Barça?
The change of role of Iñigo is total: it Happened to be the player of field with fewer minutes to be indisputable and cause a debate on who has to be headline in the XI of gala of the Barça. Already against the Port wine, Xavi gave a track of how can configure the defence. Ronald Araújo split hit to the right band, with Jules Koundé and Martínez in the axis. They appeared like a line of three, although Joao Cancel finished 'closing' by the left side in defensive facet. It can repeat several times more.