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 he played a pivotal role in Argentina’s victory over France.
Martínez’s actions during the penalty shootout and his subsequent celebrations were not well-received by the French fans, and his recent choice of headwear has only added fuel to the fire. The 32-year-old arrived in Paris sporting a baseball cap adorned with a cockerel, a symbol of France, alongside the Argentina flag and the four international trophies he has won. This bold fashion statement has not gone unnoticed, and it has stirred up emotions among the PSG faithful.
However, Aston Villa’s midfielder, Youri Tielemans, has called for calm and urged PSG supporters to “stick to football” if they choose to taunt Martínez during the match. Tielemans, who is no stranger to high-pressure games, emphasized that the Villa squad is unfazed by the potential hostility from the home crowd.
“It’s probably his style,” Tielemans commented on Martínez’s choice of 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. 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.”
Villa’s coach, Unai Emery, who has a history with PSG, having managed the club before his tenure in England, also weighed in on the situation. Emery highlighted Martínez’s passion for his club and country, urging fans to understand that his actions are driven by his competitive spirit.
“Emi is a very important player for us,” Emery stated during the 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 [Martinez was named the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper in the French capital in 2022].”
Emery also noted Martínez’s growth as a player, emphasizing his maturity and focus on 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. 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.”
As Villa prepares to face PSG, they do so as underdogs, having reached the quarterfinals in their first Champions League appearance since 1983. Despite this, the team is brimming with confidence, having already defeated Bayern Munich and drawn with Juventus in this season’s competition.
- Villa’s recent form against top teams has been impressive.
- They have a strong belief in their coach, Unai Emery.
- The team is focused on performing at the right moment.
Youri Tielemans expressed the team’s readiness and determination to take on 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.”
As the match approaches, all eyes will be on Martínez and how he handles the pressure from the PSG fans. Villa is eager to prove themselves on the European stage, and they are ready to face the challenge head-on. “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,” Tielemans concluded.
Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report
Originally Written by: Mark Ogden
