Mueez Ajao
– Aston Villa boss Unai Emery plans to speak to goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez about his celebrations following Argentina’s World Cup win.
– Martinez has been criticised for some of his actions after Sunday’s final, which included a rude gesture with his Golden Glove award.
– He also mocked France striker Kylian Mbappe.
Also Read: Martinez speaks on World Cup final penalty heroics
– “When you have big emotion, sometimes it is difficult to control it,” said Emery.
– “I will speak to him next week about some celebrations but I respect that he is now under the national team and when he will be with us, he is our responsibility then we can speak about it.
– “We are so proud of him. He won the World Cup with his national team and it’s amazing.”
– Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties in Qatar after a dramatic final had ended 3-3.
– In the dressing room after the game, Martinez called for a minute’s silence for Mbappe, who had scored a hat-trick for France. He then engaged in further mockery during Argentina’s victory parade in Buenos Aires, by holding up a doll depicting the striker.
– On Thursday, Noel Le Graet, the president of the French football federation, told French news outlet Ouest-France he had written to his Argentine counterpart about the team’s “abnormal” celebrations.
– Martinez’s antics during the penalty shootout made headlines after the final, with his mind games unsettling the France players – as the goalkeeper saved from Kingsley Coman, and Aurelien Tchouameni missed.
– He has yet to return to Villa and will not be available for his side’s game against Liverpool on 26 December as the Premier League resumes after the World Cup break.
– “He’s coming back next week,” Emery added.
– “I want him to rest now because after big emotion and hard work, he has to have some days off to rest then he’ll come back to work with us.”
