Star Argentine playmaker Nico Martinez has revealed his admiration for Western Sydney Wanderers team-mate Mitch Nichols, describing the Australian midfielder as “a very complete player”.
Martinez – Western Sydney’s marquee player – has been particularly impressed by Nichols’ endurance, with the 29-year-old Argentine claiming his Aussie team-mate runs like a thoroughbred.
Nichols leads the Wanderers for assists (4), chances created (22), shots (16) and crosses from open play (23) this season although the 27-year-old attacking midfielder has yet to score this term.
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“He knows what he’s going to do before he receives the ball… he’s a very clever guy with a very good technique, actually, I think he’s a very complete player – and he runs,” Martinez said on Tuesday.
“He’s amazing. I say he’s like a horse in the Melbourne Cup. He runs the 90 minutes, amazing, this guy.”
Martinez notched his second goal of the season last week as Western Sydney defeated Central Coast Mariners 4-1 with Nichols teeing up the Argentine in Gosford.
The victory ended a six-mach winless run for the Wanderers, who rose above the Mariners into sixth in the Hyundai A-League table.
“This is what we needed – a win. We were working very hard from pre-season but maybe we didn’t have luck,” Martinez said.
“We’ve had a lot of draws but now I think we’re playing very good and I hope that this result will [ensure] next match that we improve.”
Western Sydney’s next test will be at home against Melbourne Victory on Saturday night in what looms as an attacking extravaganza at ANZ Stadium.
Victory defeated the Wanderers 3-0 in Melbourne last month and Martinez was impressed by the New Zealand international Marco Rojas and the rest of the Big V’s impressive attacking options.
“They’re a very good team. Rojas is a very good winger. They play a lot of counterattack. They like to run in behind, so we must be careful because they are very fast in front,” he said.
“But they also have to worry about us because we have a very good team and it’s going to be a nice match.”
