The Argentinian duo Lionel Messi and Emiliano Martínez Credit: Alamy
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has warned Emiliano Martinez that he will have to “talk to him next week” following criticism of his celebrations when Argentina won the World Cup.
The Aston Villa striker saved two spot-kicks in Argentina’s World Cup quarter-final win over the Netherlands earlier in the tournament and he was again crucial as Argentina overcame France in the World Cup final.
Argentina won again on penalties and Martinez used every trick in the book to try and prevent France from scoring their penalties in the shootout.
After denying Kingsley Coman, Martinez flicked the ball away from Aurelien Tchouameni before his penalty, which the French midfielder dragged wide.
Martinez was then booked for attempting to approach Randal Kolo Muani before his penalty as Argentina eventually won the penalty shootout 4-2 after the match had finished 3-3 after extra time.
He was also criticized for his post-match celebrations in which he threw the Golden Glove from his groin towards the France fans, while mocking Kylian Mbappe in the dressing room and holding a doll with an image of his face of the French forward during Argentina’s trophy. parade
And Emery admits he will have to speak to Martinez about his over-the-top celebrations with the Aston Villa boss insisting the Argentina goalkeeper was probably struggling to control his emotions.
“When you have a lot of emotion, sometimes it’s hard to control it,” Emery said.
“Next week I will talk to him about some of the celebrations, but I have to respect that he is with his team right now. When he comes back with us we can talk about it.”
Despite that stern warning, Emery has praised Martinez for his World Cup performances and insists everyone at Aston Villa is “proud” of his achievements.
Emery added: “We’re very proud of him. He won the World Cup, it’s amazing! Aston Villa fans can be very proud.
“He will be back next week so hopefully he will be ready for the Tottenham game on New Year’s Day.
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“I want him to rest now because after all that effort and emotion, he needs it. He had an excellent World Cup and we’re looking forward to him coming back.”
Aston Villa won three of their last four Premier League games before the World Cup break and Emery will be looking to pick up where he left off on Boxing Day against Liverpool.
On Liverpool, Emery continued: “I started playing against them in 2016 in the Europa League final in their first season under Jurgen Klopp. We won a very good game.
“Since then, I have lost. I haven’t won again, sometimes a draw with Arsenal, but it’s always a very difficult game against them.
“It is a difficult team with their incredible way of playing. Last year I played against them with Villarreal in the semi-finals of the Champions League and we lost twice.
“On Christmas Day, I think it will be different. They started the league with some doubts, they have 22 points and we have 18.
“If we think we can win against them, we can be very close to them. If we perform at our best, I think we can do it. We will be with our fans at our Villa Park stadium and I think it will be a very special game.”
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