Barcelona fans are up in arms after 22-year-old left-back Gerard Martin was included in the starting lineup to face Celta Vigo in La Liga. Martin has made only 11 appearances for the club, contributing to only two clean sheets, and fans are thrilled with head coach Hansi Flick’s decision to start him ahead of other more experienced players.
Fans took to social media to express their disappointment and frustration, with many questioning Flick’s judgment. “Gerrard Martin starts. This a joke?” wrote one fan on Twitter, while another posted, “Hansi Flick, why? Gerald Martin??”. The criticism was not limited to Twitter, with fans also taking to X to express their dismay. “Gerard Martin. Herh flick behave oo” posted one user, while another tweeted, “What is Gerard Martin doing here?”
The inclusion of Martin in the lineup is even more puzzling given his limited experience with the team. The 22-year-old has made only four starts for Barcelona, and his contributions have been minimal. Fans are worried that Martin’s inclusion in the lineup will cost the team points, with one user posting, “Why do I feel we are dropping point tonight? I’m not really comfortable with Gerrard Martin.”
Despite the criticism, Barcelona has a reputation for giving young players opportunities to showcase their talent. Martin made his La Liga debut with the Blaugrana’s A team on August 17, replacing Alejandro Balde in a 2-1 away win against Valencia. However, fans are still concerned that Martin’s inclusion in the lineup will put the team at a disadvantage.
The controversy surrounding Martin’s inclusion in the lineup has overshadowed the praise he received from team-mate Robert Lewandowski. Lewandowski hailed Martin’s talent, saying that he was “blown away” when he saw him play for the first time. “The first time I saw Lamine Yamal in training, he was 15 years old, I’ve seen a lot of talent in my life, but never like that: oh my God, it was amazing,” Lewandowski said.
However, the praise from Lewandowski has not appeased fans, who are more concerned about Martin’s inclusion in the lineup than his talent. The debate is likely to continue, with fans waiting to see how Martin performs on the pitch and whether he can justify his inclusion in the lineup.
In the meantime, fans are left wondering why Flick made the decision to start Martin ahead of other more experienced players, and whether it was a gamble that will pay off or one that will cost the team points.
