Roberto Martínez on the importance of 1v1s and nurturing creativity

Across his time working on the club and international stage, the Spaniard has worked with some of the world’s most inventive attackers – Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard, just to name a few. Here, he reflects on how coaches can better nurture creativity, avoid overcoaching that suppresses expression, and identify the individual qualities in players that enable a team to thrive.

• Martínez argues that creativity and superiority in 1v1 duels are the keys to unlocking matches at the highest level in an era of organised defensive blocks.
  

• Over-coaching, limiting self-expression and creativity, are major obstacles at the academy level in the modern game, according to Martínez. He urges coaches to encourage natural decision-making and risk-taking.
  

• He says four versions of key 1v1 situations should be trained from ages 10-11 and strengthened as players grow into their positions.

Part 1: Creativity and player development
Martínez believes that creativity is vital in modern football, not just from a fan-enjoyment perspective, but for breaking down organised blocks. He notes that, nowadays, teams are so well-prepared defensively that games often hinge on moments of brilliance and 1v1 situations to create decisive chances to score. For Martínez, 1v1 dominance – whether attacking or defending – is enough to build an entire career. However, he warns that academy environments sometimes restrict young players, with an overemphasis placed on completing actions with one or two touches, which is counter-intuitive to the needs of young players. Martínez urges youth coaches to support the development of 1v1s during training and highlights four specific 1v1 situations to focus on through a player’s journey. He states that these actions should be embedded throughout the development process, beginning around age 10-11, and becoming increasingly position-specific as players mature.

Part 2: Specialising strengths of players
In the second part of the interview, Martínez drives home his belief that 1v1 situations are fundamental to football at every level. As the head coach of Portugal and formerly of the Belgium national team, he stresses that international players must be able to handle 1v1 duels in and out of possession. He explains that games are filled with isolated duels, whether purely as 1v1s or those that temporarily shift into 2v1s or recovery situations. Martínez then dissects four clips of 1v1 duels from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, using them to illustrate how these moments shape the rhythm and outcomes of matches between elite teams. Additionally, he reflects on whether players need to be two-footed at the highest level of today’s game, arguing that being exceptional at something – such as 1v1 situations – is far more important than being equally effective with both feet.