Josep Martinez Praises the Spanish National Team Under Luis de la Fuente

Praise for the Spanish national team

The Spanish international Josep Martínez, goalkeeper for Inter Milan, highlighted the surprise he felt seeing a team play in such a "cohesive" manner, a unity that made them "the strongest team in the world," and praised Luis de la Fuente, the architect of that group.

In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the goalkeeper, who joined the national team in the last call-up after Joan García's injury, revealed that the national team players, despite spending little time together, seem to "live together. They do everything by heart, it's impressive," he said.

"The group is above everything, no one is above, and it's a beautiful message because with players of such high quality, it's not something that can be taken for granted. Here, everyone is going in the same direction, and unity has turned this group into the strongest team in the world," he stated in words to the national newspaper with the largest circulation.

"Sometimes you have good players and you give them freedom; here, no: everyone knows the coach's idea and they carry it out. And there is another important aspect: the foundation is a common playing philosophy spread throughout Spain, so the assimilation process is easier, it comes naturally," he reflected.

Regarding the coach, Luis de la Fuente, with whom he had already worked in the U-21 team, Martínez assured that he remains "the same humble and approachable person."

"And with these qualities, he has built a group that is very eager to improve and does not settle for what it has and has conquered, but constantly seeks new stimuli to prolong the extraordinary path it is building," he explained.

The goalkeeper, trained in Alcira, his hometown, before signing for the lower categories of Barcelona, emphasized that the welcome in 'La Roja' was easy because he already knew some people: "Some were guys I had seen in La Masia during my two years in Barcelona, and with others I had shared experiences in the lower categories of Spain."

"The idea of the game is the same throughout the country. Then, it is clear that Barcelona is an important part of the identity of this team, but it is not the only thing," he added, highlighting the Spanish team's "philosophy," a way of understanding the game that, for example, "does not exist in Italy."

After his time in the Barcelona youth academy, Martínez headed to Las Palmas, where he played for two seasons before signing with the German Leipzig, a team he stayed with for another two years, which opened the doors to Genoa, already in Serie A, before making the leap to Inter, where he took over the goal. EFE

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