Internazionale goalkeeper Josep Martínez was interviewed by La Gazzetta dello Sport, discussing his journey to becoming the starting goalkeeper after Sommer's departure, overcoming the shadow of a traffic accident, and his goals for the new season with the team to challenge for the Champions League and be called up to the Spanish national team.

After serving as a backup behind Sommer for two seasons, Josep Martínez is now Internazionale's starting goalkeeper. In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, he said: "After the accident, I was in a very bad state and couldn't train the way I wanted to. But with the help of Internazionale, my teammates, and a professional, I've put all of that behind me. This year, I also dream of being called up by de la Fuente."

With three weeks to go until the league opener, how are you feeling now?

Martínez: "Very good. I'm ready, completely ready."

You accepted the role of backup at Internazionale for two seasons. How did you adjust your mindset when you weren't playing for a long time?

Martínez: "When you can't play, your mental state is very important. I always only thought about being fully prepared and waiting for the right opportunity. That's how football is. Now the opportunity has come to me, and I want to seize it as much as possible."

Sommer's performance was somewhat up and down last season, and it seemed you were ready to take his place. Then...

Martínez: "Then, something happened off the field that prevented me from training the way I wanted to. A player must be clear-headed to perform at their best. Fortunately, now I can put all of that behind me, focus on the new season, and no longer think about what happened in the past. I am full of desire."

How did you recover from the impact of that accident?

Martínez: "With the help of teammates, family, and friends. I also had the support of a professional. But there's no special secret, really. When such a tragedy happens, one will definitely feel pain, which is normal. That was a very difficult period. Afterwards, with time, I was finally able to move forward."

In the past two seasons, did you ever consider leaving at any point?

Martínez: "No. I felt that I also deserved to play because I was ready. But this isn't just a thought for the second goalkeeper; every player in the squad thinks this way. People often say that competitive backups help starting players train better and keep them on their toes, and that's true."

Internazionale has brought in another experienced goalkeeper, Provedel.

Martínez: "He's a very good person and also very humble. He'll also try to make it difficult for the coach to choose, which is normal. I'll just try to do my part."

At least from the start of the season, the goalkeeper hierarchy seems clear. You should be playing in the first round against Monza.

Martínez (laughs): "That judgment shouldn't be confirmed by me. In the end, performance on the field will say it all. I have to prove my worth, prove that I deserve to be Internazionale's goalkeeper. Only that matters most."

Do you think you've improved since leaving Genoa?

Martínez: "Of course. I learned a lot from Sommer in the past two seasons."

Have you set a goal for yourself that you'll only be satisfied after achieving it?

Martínez: "On a personal level, I hope to continue to grow in my professional abilities and as a person. As for the team, I hope we can win everything."

So what are Internazionale's goals? Last season you wanted to win the Serie A title, what about now?

Martínez: "We won't give up on any competition. We must remain ambitious on every front, including the Champions League. We want to try to go all the way again."

What can Stones bring to the team's defense?

Martínez: "He will help us a lot in terms of personality and experience. He is the kind of player who can raise the level of the entire defense."

There are also many such players in the Spanish team. As a Spaniard, how did you celebrate winning the World Cup?

Martínez: "I could only celebrate with my teammates in the training camp. That feeling was really amazing, but honestly, I would have preferred to go back to my country and celebrate with my compatriots..."

Is attracting the attention of Spanish national team coach de la Fuente still your goal?

Martínez: "More of a dream than a goal. If I can establish myself at Internazionale, maybe there will be some opportunities, why not? But the Spanish goalkeepers are all excellent. They, like Donnarumma who we played against in Hong Kong, are among the best goalkeepers in the world."

Will the Spanish team's successful period continue?

Martínez: "I hope so. And even if it does continue, I wouldn't be surprised, because in Spain, everything starts with our football philosophy, not just this generation of players performing well."

"Throughout the FA's entire system, great importance is placed on grassroots development, especially focusing on the stage where young players need to be trained and shaped. Youth teams at all levels are taught the same style of play from a young age. This prevents players from feeling overwhelmed when they enter the senior national team and suddenly step onto a bigger stage."

Is this the path Italy needs to follow to return to the World Cup?

Martínez: "Honestly, I have a different view from many of you. In my opinion, Italy is a very strong team, they've just had bad luck in recent qualifiers, that's all."

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com