Carles Martinez Novell: "I Admire Bold Coaches"

You trained at Barcelona as a coach—how do you apply those concepts at Toulouse?

“At Barcelona, you learn to play by creating spaces between opponents. Positioning is key to giving your team more time and space. The coach's job is to create that space so players can express their talent. If I limit my players, I’m not doing my job right as a coach.”

Is there a psychological aspect to this Barcelona-inspired approach to football?

“As Mikel Arteta (Arsenal’s coach and also a former Barcelona player) mentioned recently, it’s all about the culture of excellence, starting from the youth categories at seven or eight years old. Every training session, every detail, and every match reinforces this.”

“Sometimes, when we talk about coaching, we overlook the competitive aspect, but why should we separate them? In clubs like Barcelona or Toulouse, we teach players what they’ll face in the future. At Barcelona, we learned a lot about helping players.”

“I’d tell the young players that we trained them because if they ever got a minute on the pitch at Camp Nou, they’d get one minute, not two, and they had to be ready. It’s pressure, but it’s the reality.”

“For me, Guardiola is the ultimate reference.”

You mentioned Mikel Arteta, who worked under Pep Guardiola—do you see yourself following that coaching style?

“I admire bold coaches who try new things. For me, Guardiola is the ultimate reference. Today, we talk more about players' roles than their exact positions, and that comes from Guardiola. Football has changed a lot over the past 20 years, and a lot of that change can be attributed to him.”

“I also like Arne Slot at Liverpool for his understanding of space and his approach to the game. And, to step outside that style, I respect Unai Emery for his ability to communicate and convince his players. I appreciate coaches who focus on transmitting knowledge.”

What do you think of Luis Enrique, another Barcelona product, whom you’ll face with PSG on Saturday?

"Luis Enrique has very clear ideas about what he wants to do, and he knows his players will eventually get there—they have a lot of talent. And he’s really succeeding now, after a year and a half. Is the football he’s playing now attractive? Yes. Maybe it wasn’t as impressive last year, but getting to this level takes time. While you’re learning, it’s never perfect. Sometimes, we just need a bit more patience."

Like Luis Enrique and Guardiola, you’re known for being very active on the sideline—is that part of your coaching style?

"You have to understand the identity of each coach. If Diego Simeone is who he is, it’s because he’s energetic, just like Guardiola and myself. If Simeone tried to be like Ancelotti, it wouldn’t work. I coach the way I am, and my job is to get the best out of my players. If I move around too much or talk too loudly and it makes a player nervous, I need to adjust."

Do you think your style of play can work with any team, even at Toulouse?

"Of course, I come from Barcelona, from a specific style of play, and I like us to play a certain way. But I think a coach is successful when they make the most of their team. A coach who never adapts and keeps losing—that’s not for me. I’m a competitor, and I want to win. My vision can be adapted, though, depending on the team I’m working with."

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