Why PSG fans are booing Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez
Emiliano Martinez is persona non grata with French football fans (Picture: Getty) Emi Martinez was afforded a hostile reception during Aston Villa’s Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes. The Argentina international’s long-running feud with French football fans dates back to his antics after the World Cup final in Qatar. After helping Lionel Scaloni’s men defeat Les Bleus in a thrilling contest that ended with a dramatic penalty shootout, the former Arsenal goalkeeper indulged in a level of antagonism that has rendered him persona non grata ever since. Indeed, Martinez stoked the flames upon his arrival in the French capital on Tuesday ahead of this evening’s match, ahead of which rival supporters clashed in the streets of Paris. Martinez goaded PSG fans by wearing a French cap with a picture of the four recent trophies Argentina have won. Get personalised updates on Aston Villa every day Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Aside from his antics with the national team, Martinez made more headlines last season in the Europa Conference League victory over Lille with some more ‘dark arts’ in a penalty shoot-out where he made two saves. Speaking ahead of the game, however, Unai Emery claimed he does not have to worry about Martinez’s behaviour during the match. Martinez was booked in the shootout after shushing Lille fans (Picture: Getty) Emiliano Martinez’s hat would have annoyed French football fans (Picture: Instagram) ‘He is mature, he is responsible, he is getting better at controlling his emotions,’ Emery said in Paris. ‘When he arrived at Aston Villa five or six years ago and now it is different. ‘He is more mature, he is a better player and goalkeeper. Now my conversation with him is always the same: ‘Focus on football and your individual challenge and you have and try to control the emotion it is bringing to you’.’ Emery is returning to Parc des Princes for the first time since his two-year spell as manager between 2016 and 2018 and urged the French crowd to remain respectful. ‘Of course Emiliano Martinez is a very important player for us, he is one of the best players in the world, the best goalkeeper in the world, he got the award for it in Paris,’ Emery said. Martinez made headlines with his celebrations (Picture: Getty) Emiliano Martinez was pictured holding a toy baby with a mask of Kylian Mbappe during the World Cup celebrations held in Buenos Aries ‘Football is to understand the supporters, to understand how you are helping your team. ‘Every player, coaches, supporters, we have to try and understand to be respectful. ‘I think it is only football, and tomorrow we are going to face PSG playing football. Their supporters are going to support them and hopefully being respectful.’ Martinez’s team-mate Youri Tielemans, meanwhile, was nonplussed by Martinez’s pre-match theatrics. ‘I don’t really care, I’m here to play the game, whatever happens with Emi as long as it happens respectfully in football terms then I don’t mind,’ he said. ‘I have got no idea (about the cap), to be honest. I don’t know, that’s probably his style, but the only thing I can say is that he’s ready for the game tomorrow, and he’s not spoken any differently than for any other game. ‘I think he’s focused and he’s looking forward.’
Emi Martinez was afforded a hostile reception during Aston Villa’s Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes.
The Argentina international’s long-running feud with French football fans dates back to his antics after the World Cup final in Qatar.
After helping Lionel Scaloni’s men defeat Les Bleus in a thrilling contest that ended with a dramatic penalty shootout, the former Arsenal goalkeeper indulged in a level of antagonism that has rendered him persona non grata ever since.
Indeed, Martinez stoked the flames upon his arrival in the French capital on Tuesday ahead of this evening’s match, ahead of which rival supporters clashed in the streets of Paris.
Martinez goaded PSG fans by wearing a French cap with a picture of the four recent trophies Argentina have won.
Get personalised updates on Aston Villa every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
Aside from his antics with the national team, Martinez made more headlines last season in the Europa Conference League victory over Lille with some more ‘dark arts’ in a penalty shoot-out where he made two saves.
Speaking ahead of the game, however, Unai Emery claimed he does not have to worry about Martinez’s behaviour during the match.
‘He is mature, he is responsible, he is getting better at controlling his emotions,’ Emery said in Paris.
‘When he arrived at Aston Villa five or six years ago and now it is different.
‘He is more mature, he is a better player and goalkeeper. Now my conversation with him is always the same: ‘Focus on football and your individual challenge and you have and try to control the emotion it is bringing to you’.’
Emery is returning to Parc des Princes for the first time since his two-year spell as manager between 2016 and 2018 and urged the French crowd to remain respectful.
‘Of course Emiliano Martinez is a very important player for us, he is one of the best players in the world, the best goalkeeper in the world, he got the award for it in Paris,’ Emery said.
‘Football is to understand the supporters, to understand how you are helping your team.
‘Every player, coaches, supporters, we have to try and understand to be respectful.
‘I think it is only football, and tomorrow we are going to face PSG playing football. Their supporters are going to support them and hopefully being respectful.’
Martinez’s team-mate Youri Tielemans, meanwhile, was nonplussed by Martinez’s pre-match theatrics.
‘I don’t really care, I’m here to play the game, whatever happens with Emi as long as it happens respectfully in football terms then I don’t mind,’ he said.
‘I have got no idea (about the cap), to be honest. I don’t know, that’s probably his style, but the only thing I can say is that he’s ready for the game tomorrow, and he’s not spoken any differently than for any other game.
‘I think he’s focused and he’s looking forward.’
