Former Barcelona head coach Gerardo Martino believes that his sole year in charge of the first-team at the club was a “complete failure”.
Martino took over at Barcelona in the summer of 2013 and fought for the title, but ultimately lost out to Atletico Madrid who clinched their triumph at the Camp Nou with a 1-1 draw on the final day of the season.
All he won in his time at Barcelona was the Spanish Super Cup at the start of the season, though the opportunity to compete for that piece of silverware had already been decided prior to Martino’s arrival, as Barcelona had won La Liga the season prior.
After just one year at the club, the Argentinian left and was replaced by Luis Enrique, who in his first season won the Champions League, Copa del Rey and La Liga.
“My spell at Barça was a complete failure,” Martino told magazine Panenka, via Sport.
“Normally a failure means not winning, but my vision is different. If Barça would have had a different profile, even though we wouldn’t have won the the title, it would not have been a failure.
“But we didn’t win it and on top of that we did not play well. That Liga would have a been a title that would not have brought anything to the club.”
Barcelona’s front three featured Lionel Messi, Neymar, in his first season in Europe, and Alexis Sanchez, who headed to Arsenal following the conclusion of 2013/14.
The Chilean was replaced by Luis Suarez, who has been an incredible addition to the Catalans’ attack, so Martino may well have achieved more with the Uruguayan in his side, as well as a more settled Neymar.
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