PSG Fans Urged to Keep It Civil as Aston Villa’s Martínez Returns to Paris
PARIS — The stage is set for a thrilling Champions League quarterfinal clash between Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), but the spotlight is already on Villa’s goalkeeper, Emi Martínez. The Argentine shot-stopper has been a controversial figure in France ever since his antics during the 2022 World Cup final, where Argentina triumphed over France in a nail-biting penalty shootout. Now, as he returns to the French capital, Martínez is once again stirring the pot, albeit in a more subtle fashion.
Martínez, who has been a thorn in the side of French football fans, arrived in Paris wearing a baseball cap that cheekily celebrated his World Cup victory. The cap featured a cockerel, a national emblem of France, alongside the Argentina flag and the four international trophies he has won with the world champions. This sartorial choice has not gone unnoticed, and it has prompted Youri Tielemans, Martínez’s teammate at Aston Villa, to call for calm among PSG supporters.
“It’s probably his style,” Tielemans remarked about Martínez’s cap. “All I can say is that he is ready for the game tomorrow and he hasn’t spoken anything differently. He’s looking forward to it.”
While Tielemans acknowledges that the reception for Martínez might be frosty, he emphasizes that any criticism should remain within the realm of football rivalry. “I don’t care [about the reception he gets]. Whatever happens with Emi, as long as it stays in football terms, I don’t mind,” he added.
Emery’s Perspective on Martínez’s Passion
Unai Emery, the Villa coach who previously managed PSG, has also weighed in on the situation. Emery, who has seen Martínez grow as a player over the years, believes that the goalkeeper’s passion for his club and country is what drives him. “Emi is a very important player for us,” Emery stated at a pre-match news conference in Paris. “He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and he got the award for that in Paris [Martínez was named the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper in the French capital in 2022].”
Emery is confident that Martínez has matured and is now more focused on his football. “I think he is mature and responsible and getting better at controlling his emotions. I worked with him at Arsenal too, before he arrived at Villa five or six years ago, but he is different and more mature now,” Emery explained.
He continued, “He is a better player and better goalkeeper. My conversation with him is always the same — focus on football and manage it well, control your emotion and keep achieving.”
Villa’s Underdog Spirit
As Aston Villa prepares to face PSG, they do so as underdogs. This is their first appearance in the Champions League quarterfinals since 1983. However, Villa has already proven their mettle by defeating Bayern Munich and drawing with Juventus in this season’s competition. Tielemans is optimistic about their chances against the Ligue 1 champions.
- “We have a lot of players with experience and it’s about performing at the right moment,” Tielemans said. “We have played against big teams, had some really good results and the way we have adapted to get through is brilliant.”
- “We have confidence in Unai, knows what it takes to be at this stage of the competition. He has a plan in place and we are just waiting to get going tomorrow.”
- “We are happy it’s a good team to play. We’re just here to play games and win them. We are only playing tough teams now, so we have to be ready.”
- “We always want to do well, get to the latter stages and be fighting for trophies. We have had a dip, but we are coming out of it really well, so we hope to finish as strong as possible.”
As the match approaches, all eyes will be on Martínez and how he handles the pressure from the PSG fans. Will he rise above the taunts and lead Villa to a historic victory, or will the French crowd get under his skin? One thing is for sure: this clash promises to be a thrilling encounter, both on and off the pitch.
Originally Written by: Mark Ogden
