Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino coached FC Barcelona for only 1 season. And it’s fair to say that people don’t remember his time at the club as a positive period.
Nowadays, Tata Martino is the coach of the Mexican NT, and will lead them to the World Cup later this month. Yesterday, after the victory against Iraq in Girona, the coach said he would “lie” if he said that his season as manager of Barça was the one of his “splendour” and the one he felt the best and enjoyed the most. Furthermore, he said ” it was exactly the opposite”.
Tata Martino coached Barça in the 2013-2014 season, and he failed to win a trophy with his legendary squad. However, he now admits that for him “it was a great learning experience”.
That season was the first one of Neymar as a Barça player. It took time for the Brazilian to adapt to the life in Barcelona. Meanwhile, Martino failed to get the results that the club wanted.
After 1 year in charge, Martino left the club, and Luis Enrique took over. And the rest was history. For the club and for Tata himself, as he never returned to coach in Europe.
He also clarified that if he repeats “continually” that it was “the worst year” of his career on the bench. “It has to do” with something he feels “personally”, for himself, since “in no way” can he feel “disappointed” to have been able to “manage one of the most important teams in the world”. “There are no reproaches for anyone”, concluded the coach, after assuring that he is not “disappointed” with the club.
