Once again the hero for Argentina as he played a crucial part in the penalty win over the Netherlands in the World Cup quarter-finals, Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez is making headlines again.
This time it’s for the right reasons, as his penalty saves are the centre of attentions ahead of a tough semi-final matchup against Croatia, who seem to enjoy taking games into extra-time and beyond.
AS in Spain focus on the Aston Villa star, and recall how he has gone ‘from a discreet loan at Getafe to a key player for Argentina’.
He had been loaned out to the Spanish side by Arsenal at the time, before his move to Villa Park, which came two years later after a spell at Reading, where he fully showcased his talent in England.
Once picked by Aston Villa and Argentina, he has never looked back, and has become important in both squads, conquering the latter’s dressing room ‘due to his charisma’.
The explosion at Reading under manager José Gomes, who was interviewed by the Spanish newspaper about the 30-year-old.
He said: “Emiliano felt absolute confidence from his manage run his work. He felt in conversation that there was full confidence in him, understanding what was being asked of him and that allowed him to develop his potential as a goalkeeper and offer all the best he had within him. It was a matter of letting him get all the potential out of him.”
The six months he spent with the Portuguese manager at Reading changed him for the better, where Gomes explains the Aston Villa star “was one of the first to arrive at training”, showing how professional he was.
He continued: “I liked talking to him because he show intelligence and seriousness, he was always looking for the best for the team. It helped me a lot to transmit that message of ambition to the rest. Wanting to conquer the group. He was a born worker, one of those who always wanted more and more in each training session.”
Since arriving at Aston Villa from Arsenal, he has made 91 appearances for the club, conceding 114 goals and keeping 30 clean sheets in all competitions.
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