‘I wanted to repay the trust of my manager and the club’ – Emi Martinez

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 17 May 2021 18:51 BST
• 2 min read

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has said that he wanted to repay the faith manager Dean Smith has shown in him as he produced a stellar performance to help his side to a scoreless draw against Brighton.

Martinez produced nine saves over the course of the evening as the Villans maintained their unexpected European charge.

Transferred from Arsenal in the summer for around £20 million, the Spaniard is being touted as one of the signings of the season, having produced a number of fine displays.

Martinez, though, was eager to play down such praise.

“I just want to repay the trust of the manager, goalkeeper coach and club. I am glad I settled in really quickly but credit to my team-mates who are doing a really good job,” he told Sky Sports.

“That is my job and the back four, to keep a clean sheet. It is one of those games where we had to put our bodies on the line but we were really off today.

“It was so cold, I thought I had a good game because I made a save early on and I am delighted to keep everyone out today.”

Meanwhile, Martinez said that he was frustrated with the outcome of the game, indicating that it was one Aston Villa feel they should be winning.

“I’m not really(pleased with a point,” he said. “We came here to win and be in the top seven with two games in hand. We were sloppy in the first half and could not create the chances in the second.

“We’re looking to Europe, that is why I am frustrated today. We were not in the game since the first minute and Brighton deserved to win.”

The draw means that Aston Villa find themselves eighth in the standings, with former Arsenal keeper Martinez having had a big hand in their success to date.