Nicolas Martinez was dismayed at the high training loads at Western Sydney when he first arrived, but the Wanderers' marquee says the unprecedented work-rate is behind his impressive recent performances in the A-League, including his man-of-the-match role in the club's 4-1 win over Central Coast Mariners with only 10 men.
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The Argentinian was scintillating at Central Coast Stadium on Saturday, scoring a powerful header and providing another assist as the Wanderers broke their six-game winless streak in emphatic fashion.
Martinez was a constant threat as the architect of the Wanderers attack, whether it was his incisive passing as he pulled the strings in the final third or his instinctive first touch that turned possession into raids on goal. There's a sense the 29-year-old is close to his peak condition after missing the bulk of pre-season but Martinez revealed it wasn't a smooth road back to fitness.
He was initially frustrated with the high work-rate and strict training regime demanded at Western Sydney that was well beyond standards set at clubs in Europe and South America. Whether it was daily weigh-ins or gruelling sessions in the Sydney summer, it eventually worked and Martinez says getting out of his comfort zone is the reason he's emerging as the most exciting player in the competition.
"I feel the difference between when I arrived from when I played in other leagues and the fitness I achieved here is amazing because you work much harder and every week you improve. I can make 90 minutes where as other times I would drop in the second half but now I feel good," he said. "I'm trying to be better every day and this is why I came here, to work, to achieve the best moment in my career here."
The attacking midfielder was substituted five minutes before full-time and revealed he had to play the majority of the second half through the pain barrier after suffering a minor knock. He continued to threaten as the Wanderers were forced to play the final 30 minutes a man down once Jerrad Tyson was sent-off for a reckless challenge.
"I was a little bit tired but it's normal. When you work hard you always play with pain," Martinez said. "Soreness, it's normal when you work hard but it doesn't matter if you are good, your mind is good you can play 90 minutes and it's not a problem."
Referee Kris Griffiths-Jones had no hesitation in sending off Tyson when he brought down Trent Buhagiar, deeming the Wanderers goalkeeper the last man as the two collided outside of the box. Tyson protested furiously that he was first to the ball despite wiping out Buhagiar in a heavy challenge and that by the letter of the law, it should not have been a foul let alone a dismissal.
"I'm disappointing to have won the ball and then to get sent-off," Tyson said. "The ball got played through, I came out and took the ball. Obviously there was a 50-50 situation where we were both desperate to win the ball, there was a collision but the referee sent me off. That's his decision."
Wanderers coach Tony Popovic was livid with the decision and let his feelings known to the fourth official on the sideline. "I at the time didn't think it was a send-off. We're told it was denying a goal-scoring opportunity. We had two players running back with that player so I find it hard to see how that's denying. I don't know what else to see. That's what we've been told, that's the reason he got a red card," Popovic said after the match.
