Javi Martinez interview: It'd be better for me to get the virus than older one

Published on: 05 June 2020

Javi Martinez has described how he made himself useful during the coronavirus pandemic in Germany.

The Bayern Munich defender lent a hand to the city's medical services to help vulnerable people at the height of the crisis.

The Spaniard is also one of the four stars of a new Amazon Prime documentary called 'Futbolista por el Mundo' alongside Xavi, David Villa and Juan Mata.

As part of the documentary's launch, Martinez gave an interview to MARCA about life in Germany, the Bundesliga and his good deeds.

What would you like people to see about you with this documentary?

"How my life in Germany is. It's a very positive experience that I recommend to everyone. There were some stressful days of shooting for the producers, but we had a really good time."

You say that, like in Spain, you don't live in just one place.

"That's right. We're privileged with the country that we have, for sure. It's a bit of a shame to see that other things matter more than taking the country forward at the moment. It seems that everyone is looking out for themselves, in short."

Do you value Spain more when you're away?

"For sure. You don't realise what you have until you lose it, so they say. You realise how well we live, the warmth of the people. Germany is incredible and Spain has many things to envy about it, but also the other way around."

What have you learned from this health crisis?

"Here, there was no lockdown, only recommendations. I almost live in the middle of a forest. I felt for the people that had to spend quarantine in little apartments. It had to be so tough. And all the health workers too."

How did you get to the point of helping Munich's Red Cross?

"I saw that, in Spain, people were helping more vulnerable people. I felt bad not doing anything, not helping. I called the Red Cross and it was easy. It was nothing, just doing shopping and taking it to [vulnerable people]. Nothing heroic. We had all the necessary protection. I thought that, in terms of getting the virus, it was better that I, as a healthy, young athlete, got it than an older person."

You also helped with the refugee crisis.

"I like to help. Aside from being a footballer, I'm a person. I feel good helping. I saw what I could do and I knew that lots of people could wear the clothes I'd given them. I was getting sent videos of children playing with our footballs. It was very rewarding."

Does the elite footballer live on the margin of reality?

"I don't think so. If you put 1,000 footballers together, it will be just like any group. Some will help and others won't. I think there are times when people have to help. If I can, I'll do it. This hasn't reached everyone."

Let's talk about the new football - what's it like playing behind closed doors?

"I don't like it. I'm very passionate. I need to be shouted at. Arriving at Real Betis' stadium or the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and there are thousands of people telling you everything. That motivates me. My heart sank when we got to Dortmund and saw five people on their bikes. But I understand it had to happen."

But the power of football...

"That's what I'm saying. We have to think that we can make this more bearable for lots of people. Football is our passion for lots of us. Now, we've got Sevilla vs Real Betis coming. That changes the tone and makes everything more bearable. We need it."

What fear do you have about such a strange return?

"I'm the type of player who needs a run of games. The dynamic of playing every few days isn't ideal. There's no sequence of training to get into peak form. It's easier to get injured now because we've stopped for longer than ever and we haven't had a normal preseason. I'm doing quite well and, if the coach picks me, I think I'm ready. Then there's the heat [in Spain]. You tell me how you can play in Seville in July."

Bayern have shot out of the blocks.

"We're doing well, that's true. But the fixtures we have coming up aren't easy: Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Monchengladbach... There's still a step to go, but it's the most important one."

Do you realise how many trophies you've won?

"My brother reminds me about them now. I'm very forgetful about everything, it's not out of arrogance. I'm a disaster. Sometimes I even forget that I have kids and everything [laughs]."

What has Hansi Flick done to turn Bayern around so well?

"He's worked alongside Joachim Low for so long and learned a lot. Now, we're playing similarly to the German national team. His character is ideal for a club like Bayern. He reminds me a lot of Vicente del Bosque in the way he is: a person that wants a player, for he was one himself, to understand the importance of being a team, that is necessary at all times."

Are Bayern always better with a German coach?

"Well, there's something very important: communicating in your language is always easier. In any country, no matter how much you master a language. Marcelo¡ Bielsa is an example. With a translator, it's not the same. But it's the same for the players. No matter how well you speak, there are things that are different: gestures, ways of saying things, pauses... I'm sure that Pep Guardiola, for example, didn't communicate in the same way at Barcelona than he did here. Communication is key for a coach."

You see Joshua Kimmich every day. How would you describe him?

"He's a born leader. He knows how to lead. He's going to be a legend, if he's not already."

And Robert Lewandowski?

"He's having the best year of his career. Everything goes in. He's an animal - the best No.9 in the world. Hopefully he continues like this until August."

Were you afraid that he'd leave for Real Madrid?

"Afraid? No, because great players have left Bayern and they've always replaced them well. But it's clear that he would've been a big loss, but it didn't happen."

Have you decided on your future?

"I have to sit down and speak with Bayern. My contract ends in 2021. I'm ready for anything. What I've experienced here has been great. We have to wait because there's a lot of uncertainty. We don't know what the market will be like, whether the Champions League is played..."

And if you have to leave?

"If that happens, I'm open to anything. I'm not ruling anything out - anything that fulfils me personally and sporting-wise. Maybe playing and living in the United States, in Australia, returning to Spain... I've still got football left in me."

Does that include a return to Athletic Club?

"Anything. I had six incredible years in Bilbao. The option is definitely there."

If you could change anything about your career, what would it be?

"I definitely wouldn't have gone to hit the pass that Bernat gave to me against Dortmund - the one that destroyed my knee. Other than that, I'd have said a proper goodbye to Athletic. More than ever because there wasn't time, or for another thing."

Source: m.allfootballapp.com

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