Aston Villa boss Unai Emery says he’ll talk to Emiliano Martinez in an attempt to help him ‘control his emotions’ after the goalkeeper’s controversial celebrations and taunting of Kylian Mbappe in the wake of Argentina’s World Cup triumph
- Emiliano Martinez played an important role in Argentina’s World Cup victory
- He followed the win by making an obscene gesture with the Golden Glove award
- The keeper has also made a number of jokes at the expense of Kylian Mbappe
- Aston Villa manager Unai Emery will urge Martinez to ‘control his emotions’
Unai Emery will hold talks with Emiliano Martinez after the goalkeeper’s controversial celebrating of Argentina’s World Cup win.
Martinez made an obscene gesture after being awarded the Golden Glove for the tournament’s best keeper, and has continued to bait France star Kylian Mbappe in the days that followed.
French FA president Noel Le Graet has made a formal complaint to his Argentina counterpart, Claudio Tapia, regarding the Argentine players’ ‘abnormal’ behaviour since the Final, and Aston Villa boss Unai Emery will sit down with the Martinez when he returns to the club on December 29, urging him to ‘control’ his ‘emotions’
Emi Martinez has been heavily criticised for his behaviour since Argentina’s World Cup win
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery said he will talk to the goalkeeper when he is back with the team
Emery said: ‘I want to speak with him when he will come here next week but I am thinking more about his performance and his win, than his celebration.
‘The celebration is for the supporters, with really big emotions. It’s not really a good moment as a coach to identify why.
‘I prefer to be focused on how he performed and how he is going to win with us afterwards. I am going to speak with him because I want to control him about that as well – his emotions.
‘We have to have values, we have to focus on behaviour when we are together and with the opposition players.
The keeper has made a number of jokes at the expense of Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappe
‘We can speak in 90 per cent of the cases about very good things, and be very proud of him, for his performance, for his win. It is about more than small details like celebrations.’
Martinez has been granted extra time off following Qatar 2022 by Emery, which means he will miss the Boxing Day clash with Liverpool, but should be available for the trip to Tottenham on New Year’s Day.
‘I said before the World Cup that every player would have a minimum of seven days off after the tournament, and a maximum of 12,’ explained Emery. ‘So I am expecting Emiliano to come on Thursday and to be available for Tottenham.’
Villa supporters plan to show their appreciation for Martinez with a banner in the Holte End congratulating him on becoming a world champion.
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