Aston Villa have made it to the UEFA Conference League semi-final after overcoming Lille on Thursday.
Emiliano Martínez played a key role as his heroics in the penalty shootout helped Aston Villa make it to the last four of the competition.
Speaking to reporters after the tie, relayed by L’Equipe, Lille president Olivier Létang was critical of the Aston Villa goalkeeper.
The Argentina international travelled to France for the first time since helping his country beat Les Bleus to win the World Cup.
It wasn’t surprising that Martínez was booed by the Lille supporters throughout the game, and Matty Cash’s 87th minute goal helped the Villans level the score on aggregate it felt like a penalty shootout and Emi glory was written in the stars.
The 31-year-old saved two shots from Nabil Bentaleb and Benjamin André. The Aston Villa player, who also shushed the Lille supporters, had the last laugh on Thursday.
Martínez’s antics and behaviour on the pitch didn’t please the Ligue 1 side’s president and he didn’t hold back when being critical of the South American.
When asked about the stopper’s reaction, he said: “I don’t want us to spend time talking about this boy who has an attitude that is not of a very high-level athlete.
“Because in top-level sport, in victory or in defeat, you have to remain calm and elegant, so I prefer that we focus on ourselves and bring out all the positive aspects.”
Unai Emery’s side will face Olympiacos in the UEFA Conference League semi-final.
