Javi Martinez
Many of the players that I’m going to end up with have a personal connection to Louis Van Gaal. It’s not surprising, considering that he trained best teams in the world for more than two decades. Javi Martinez though, does not - he came to Bayern more than a year after Van Gaal was sacked. But Van Gaal’s famous philosophy played a big part in his becoming the player that he is today. The manager that nurtured him from the very beginning was Marcelo «El Loco» Bielsa.
He is known to be one of the most unique managers in today’s football, with his thorough approach to the tactical side of the game. What may have gone under the radar is that his managerial style and tactical approach was inspired by no other than Louis Van Gaal and his famous 1995 Ajax side.
Marcelo Bielsa said:
I am a big fan of the football Ajax played under Louis van Gaal. When executed properly, it is winning football and great for the fans, which is what we should all aspire to accomplish.
Bielsa proved that this football can still be played.
Ajax always played very flexible in opponent possession. The lines adapted to the opponent's playing style, but in possession the team plays its own game. Without consideration for the opponent and of course very offensive. We are trying to do the same.
After his record-breaking transfer to Bayern Munich he formed a fantastic midfield duo with Bastian Schweinsteiger, which was the foundation of Bayern’s treble-winning team. Their most impressive result during the European campaign was, without a shadow of doubt, the 7:0 demolition of Barcelona over two legs. In many articles that followed that historical game, Martinez was named Bayern’s «secret weapon» and the kryptonite to the Spanish tiki-taka. Not only did he nullify Andreas Iniesta, he also showed a great variety in his game, massively contributing to his team’s attacking play.
Much was expected when Pep Guardiola succeeded Jump Heynckes. In Pep Javi met another admirer of Van Gaal’s vintage:
Few teams, among all I have seen play, have seduced me than that of Ajax under Van Gaal. The ease of creating the game behind the fast side of players and the way they pass the ball to the feet through the spaces. This Ajax could solve completely fantastically all "one-against-one" that can exist in a game. In both attack and defence. They assume the risk that a team can take. This was something that surprised me, which astonished me. Positional discipline: Possession of the ball as the basic idea, the game in constant support. Movements... And they did it all as simple as a sublime way. They were able to do perfectly is what I believe that a football team must always do. Van Gaal's Ajax gave football lessons to those who were familiar with the game.
Javi Martinez, with his unique set of skills and a great blend between football intelligence and sheer physicality, was destined to shine under Guardiola, but the fate intervened. His last three seasons were marred with injuries, which may very well be a difference between another semi-final and the Champions League trophy for Bayern. Pep is known for experimental formations and his urge to reinvent his players. He saw in Martinez what Bielsa saw years ago - a potential to be a great central defender. Javi speaks about this transformation with a great admiration towards his manager:
Pep is amazing. He has taught me so much. He makes you watch videos, he has tactics, exercises. We watched more than 200 videos together. From the start, Pep told me he could see me as a defender and I had to be ready. So we started to exercise every day. A lot of repetitive movements on the training pitch. It could be boring at times – but you need it. I played as a defender with (Marcelo) Bielsa at Atletico Bilbao. He was so special and gave me something I had never seen but what Pep wanted wasn't the same. Bielsa made you go man-to-man, so it was easier. But with Pep, we trained. First month; second month, over and over. Then you start to improve. Your mentality changes and you start thinking like a centre-back.
You’ve probably already guessed who he is going to emulate. One of the most unique and complete players to ever step on the football pitch, Frank Rijkaard. Physical monster, tactical genius and a silky playmaker - all molded into one. He is arguably the best (at least, without a doubt, my favorite) defensive midfielder ever. There is no way I was going to find someone equal to him, but in terms of the playing style and the matching skill set I think that Javi Martinez is as good replacement as it gets. He has all the physical attributes, he is equally at ease as a holding midfielder and as a defender, and not only he is a defensive behemoth, he is also a very cultured midfielder who excels at the attacking play (not only as a playmaker, he was also used by Pep as a target man to break Dortmund’s pressing game). And while the injuries slowed him down on his path to greatness, we shouldn’t discount what he achieved already - he is World and European Champion with Spain and a Champions League winner with Bayern.
