Emiliano Martinez vowed to revive the spirit of Argentina’s World Cup winners as Aston Villa chase their first major trophy for 30 years on Wednesday.
If Villa overcome Freiburg in the Europa League final in Istanbul, it will end a 30-year trophy drought and also deliver their first success on this stage since the 1982 European Cup victory over Bayern Munich.
Martinez has had a glittering period of success with Argentina, winning two Copa America titles either side of the 2022 World Cup. And the goalkeeper, who wanted to leave Villa last summer, hopes Villa can write a similar story.
‘When I went to my first Copa America in 2021, I could not remember Argentina winning a trophy,’ he said of the South Americans’ 28-year drought. ‘This is the same.
‘For Villa fans, when you meet them in Birmingham, they say “I’ve never seen Villa in a European final, never seen Villa lifting a trophy”.
‘So I have the same mindset as I went into that first Copa America with Argentina. With that anger, with that belief and confidence that I can do it.
Emiliano Martinez hopes to revive the spirit of Argentina’s World Cup winning side to help Aston Villa win their first trophy for 30 years
Martinez played a key role in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup win, which came after they had broken their own trophy drought by winning the Copa America
Aston Villa meet Freiburg in the Europa League final in Istanbul on Wednesday night
‘I think we deserve it. The fans deserve it. The manager (Unai Emery) has had five finals in the Europa League and you wouldn’t want anyone else on the bench leading us.
‘We are in a European Final and qualified for the Champions League again despite all the circumstances and the ups and downs, the budget we had this year.
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‘We were among the lowest spenders in Premier League, but we have a top coach, a top captain (John McGinn) and a decent core of the team. When we stick together and fight together we can beat anybody.’
If the decision had been Martinez’s alone, he would not be a Villa player today. Despite signing a lucrative new contract less than a year previously, the 33-year-old spent much of last summer eyeing a move away, with Manchester United and Atletico Madrid interested.
He had left Villa Park in tears at the end of the 2024-25 campaign and all signs seemed to indicate a departure. But Martinez stayed and could now be part of one of Villa’s greatest nights.
‘I had a commitment with Aston Villa, I am a World Cup winner with Aston Villa and I won two Golden Gloves,’ added Martinez. ‘I will always and forever love this club no matter what. Some day I’ll retire and someone else will go between the sticks but I am really proud to stay and I made the right choice.’
