Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has won every final he has played in during his career
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez revealed he sustained a broken finger during the pre-match warm-up ahead of his side’s Europa League final victory against Freiburg.
The Argentine international suffered the injury in the moments leading up to kick-off in Istanbul, requiring assessment from the team’s physiotherapist.
Despite the setback, he played the entirety of Wednesday’s match, contributing to Villa’s 3-0 win and securing their first European trophy in 44 years.
While not heavily tested, with goals from Youri Tielemans, Emi Buendia, and Morgan Rogers ending Villa’s 30-year wait for a major trophy, the 33-year-old still registered two saves.
“I broke my finger in the warm-up today, and for me, every negative brings a positive. I’ve dealt with challenges like this throughout my career, and I’ll continue to do so,” Martinez stated.
“Am I concerned? I’ve never experienced a broken finger before. Every catch was a challenge. However, these are hurdles one must overcome, and I’m proud to represent Aston Villa.”
The injury did not prevent Martinez from participating in the post-match celebrations, as he joined the Villa supporters and hoisted manager Unai Emery.
Argentina will be closely monitoring Martinez’s condition, with their World Cup squad announcement imminent ahead of next month’s tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
The former Arsenal player has maintained a perfect record in finals, including the FA Cup final, the World Cup final, two Copa América titles, and now the Europa League.
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