Unai Emery 'to talk to Emiliano Martinez' about keeper's World Cup antics - 'Difficult to control great emotions'
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Published 23/12/2022 at 21:12 GMT
“When you have great emotions it is difficult to control," said Unai Emery in recognition of the situation Emiliano Martinez has been experiencing in the past week. In the wake of the World Cup final which Argentina so memorably won, Martinez came in for criticism for a crude gesture and jibes directed at France's Kylian Mbappe. Emery added he was "proud" of the 30-year-old.
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Aston Villa boss Unai Emery says he will talk to Emiliano Martinez about the Argentina keeper's World Cup antics, which included jibes aimed at France forward Kylian Mbappe.
Following his country's stunning World Cup final win over Les Bleus, Martinez made a crude gesture with his golden glove award on the podium.
He followed that up with a dressing-room song directed at Mbappe, and then on his team's celebratory bus tour in Buenos Aires, the 30-year-old appeared to be holding a baby doll with Mbappe's face on it.
Some have stated that Martinez's actions were in response to Mbappe questioning the strength of teams that Argentina had to face in qualifying for the World Cup from CONMEBOL, the South American section.
But so frowned upon have Martinez's actions been in France, that France Football Federation president Noel Le Graet felt compelled to write a letter to his Argentinian counterpart, citing the gestures as "abnormal".
“When you have great emotions it is difficult to control," Emery said, as per Spanish outlet AS, as he prepares his Villa side to face Liverpool on Boxing Day.
"I'll talk to him next week about some celebrations. I respect that he is with his team.
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Emiliano Martinez, Leo Messi, Kylian Mbappe
Image credit: facebook
"When he is with us, under our responsibility, we will be able to talk to him.
"For me as a coach, we've already been at Arsenal and we know each other, I'm very happy to work with him.
"We are very proud of him. Every Aston Villa fan should be very proud.
"He will return next week, now he has to rest after many emotions and hard work."
Martinez also received brickbats for his behaviour during the Qatar 2022 final shootout, in which he repeatedly tried to disturb the France players as they prepared for their respective spot-kicks.
Mbappe wasn't put off however, scoring three penalties in total past Martinez during the game, with one coming in the shootout.
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