High-Profile Mistakes Threaten Josep Martinez's Role at San Siro
Inter Milan maintain a perfect record in Serie A after beating Udinese 5-3, but goalkeeper Josep Martinez faces intense scrutiny following consecutive high-profile errors. Promoted to the starting role following the departure of Yann Sommer, the Spanish goalkeeper’s positioning and decision-making on the ball have compromised Inter’s defensive stability.
Josep Martinez’s Distribution and Near-Post Positioning
Martinez operates as a sweeper-keeper tasked with playing out from the back, taking touches inside his own penalty area to initiate build-up sequences. However, hesitation when pressure is applied has exposed Inter’s back line during low-tempo defensive passes. Beyond his work on the ball, his positioning on low crosses into the six-yard box has left open angles at his near post when attackers break through the initial line of defense.
Ivan Provedel
playerDuring Inter’s 2-1 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, defender Alessandro Bastoni played a routine pass across the back to Martinez inside the six-yard box. Martinez took one touch to control but hesitated on his second, allowing Federico Valverde to close down the space and poke the ball into the net. Days later against Udinese, Keinan Davis outmuscled Andy Diouf on the flank to send a low cross into the box, where Jurgen Ekkelenkamp’s slight touch beat Martinez after the goalkeeper left excessive space uncovered at his near post.
Inter opted against high-cost summer targets like Guglielmo Vicario and Emiliano Martinez, choosing instead to promote Martinez and recruit 33-year-old Ivan Provedel as competition. With consecutive defensive breakdowns leading directly to goals, Provedel’s presence on the bench presents an immediate alternative if the coaching staff seeks greater security in goal.
Josep Martínez
playerData and reporting regarding Inter’s goalkeeping selection were detailed by La Gazzetta dello Sport.