In an exclusive interview with "Daily Sports", Barcelona defender Gerard Martin talked about Flick, Yamal and some topics last season.

What does Frick mean to you?

- He gave me all the confidence I needed and always believed in me, and I will be forever grateful to him.

You started as a reserve team player last season, but have already started playing with the first team. When did you realize you had become a member of the first team?

- My debut was against Valencia. It was a little difficult at the beginning, but I think by December, I felt like things were getting better and I was officially in the first team.

You were promoted to the Barcelona first team in a short period of time. How does this transition feel?

- The key is to adapt to change. Going from the reserves to the first team is a huge change. This requires constantly improving yourself, building self-confidence, and maintaining yourself.

It takes work

- My family and friends gave me a lot of advice and helped me a lot. I also went to see a psychiatrist, which I didn't think I needed, but that's always good because there's always something you don't know how to deal with.

You mentioned before that you are a die-hard Barcelona fan. Does that help you on the court?

- Being a Barcelona fan is in my blood. real. When you play for a big club you're always motivated, but if you play for the best club in the world and you're a fan of that club, it makes you even more motivated. If you are feeling down one day, think about this and it will help you get back to your best.

How do you evaluate last season, your first season with the first team?

- Everything is improving steadily. It took some getting used to at first, but as the game went on I gradually built up my confidence. My review is positive, I thought it was a good season. We also won the championship. What I'm most satisfied with is my progress and the progress I've made in important games.

About the Champions League match against Inter Milan, the Copa del Rey final, La Liga El Clasico...

- I have both good memories and bad memories. The bad memory is being eliminated by Inter Milan. Great memories because we won the championship and because I saw myself getting the job done in those really tough games, which is always gratifying.

You said you still remember that game in Milan because you were eliminated, but was that your best game?

- I think so. I should reminisce, but it was definitely one of the best, if not the best, of all the games I've played in.

You cried in the end

- Well, we tried our best, but we lost in the end. And, like I said before, if you have this Barcelona complex, it can be really painful.

Now that several months have passed, is Dumfries’s action considered a foul?

- This was a controversial issue at the time, but now it doesn't matter whether it was a foul or not.

Your outstanding performance last season allowed you to renew your contract and become an official member of the first team

- This is my recognition. The coaches and athletic director believed in me and had high expectations for me. What great news.

You chose the No. 18 jersey

- because of Alba. I wore the No. 18 jersey in the echelon for a few years because of him. He was my role model at the left back position. When I was a kid watching Barcelona games, he was the left back. I had the opportunity to wear the number 18 jersey this summer and I took it without hesitation.

At the beginning of the season, your registration was not completed yet. Were you nervous at that time?

- To be honest, I'm not worried about whether I can register, because I know I will eventually register, that's what the club told me. It's true that when the weekend comes and you realize you haven't signed up yet, that feeling can be really anxiety-provoking because you want to play but can't.

In training, you often have to play against Yamal. How did you cope?

——Everyone knows Yamal’s strength. To be honest, guarding him in training is very difficult, but it also prepares you for games and helps you improve and grow.

Is he a joker?

- Yes, we joke with each other all the time, but that's why we have such a great relationship with him and the other players.

In Barcelona, ​​there are constant rumors about signings. There are rumors that left-back Grimaldo will join the team, does that make you nervous?

——During the offseason, there will always be some outside rumors, but I don’t care much about them because you don’t know which ones are true and which ones are false. There were rumors about me in the summer, but I know it's not true because I spoke to the club. I looked at it calmly because I knew the coach was pleased with my performance.

What are your goals for this season?

- Personally, my goal is to play in as many games as possible and establish myself in the team. As far as the team is concerned, my goal is to win every title we compete for.