Former AmaZulu FC head coach Pablo Franco Martin has reflected on his stint with the Betway Premiership side and revealed what he would have wanted to achieve with the team this season.
Martin’s tenure at AmaZulu came to an end earlier this season, marking the conclusion of his spell, which commenced at the start of the 2022/23 campaign when he replaced Romain Folz.
Usuthu may not have come out with the desired results in the first three matches this season, but Martin asserted his side was coming along well, even though they were “not effective” in the “16-yard boxes”.
He highlighted that AmaZulu were among the three best teams in the league in terms of creating goal-scoring opportunities, expected goals, ball possession, and passing accuracy.
And the 44-year-old coach feels that the goals they conceded were a result of their own unnecessary mistakes.
PABLO FRANCO MARTIN BELIEVES USUTHU WERE COMING ALONG WELL
“The team’s shape was already good. I didn’t see many teams so organised, playing as good and being as competitive as Amazulu last season,” said Martin during the interview with FARPost.
“In the first three games of this season, the team was in the top 3 of goal-scoring chances created, expected goals, ball possession, number and accuracy of passes, we hit the post four times in three games in a row, and we conceded from unbelievable mistakes.
“We were playing very good, but football games are decided in the 16-yard boxes, and we were not effective there.”
The former Spanish side Getafe manager admitted he would have loved to continue at Usuthu, revealing that he turned down offers from big clubs in Europe and the African continent to remain with the Durban-based club.
He further added he was aiming to fight for the Carling Knockout Cup and Nedbank Cup and to finish within the top four of the Betway Premiership.
WHAT MARTIN WANTED TO ACHIEVE WITH USUTHU THIS SEASON
“Of course I would have loved to stay longer because I rejected offers from big clubs in the continent and in Europe to continue in this project,” he continued.
“I am sure that with the way we were working, recovering players from injuries like Pule [Hendrick Ekstein], who was our best player last season or with [Richard] Ofori, who joined late and couldn’t play for us, we would have fought for winning Black Label and Nedbank and for finishing in the Top 4 in the league.”
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