Peter Schmeichel has spoken highly about Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and the role he has played in Argentina reaching the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar.
The treble-winner with Manchester United thinks Martinez is proving to be a ‘big player’ at the World Cup and there are two aspects of his game that he really loves – catching crosses and his distribution.
During the summer of 2020, Martinez swapped the colours of Arsenal to become a regular number one in the Midlands – and he hasn’t looked back since.
It has helped transform his career and his life. At that time, he wasn’t even an international, yet fast forward to the present and he is one game away from adding a World Cup medal to the Copa America title he already has around his neck.
On Sunday, he will play game number 26 for his nation and it will be the most important of his career because Argentina have the chance to provide Lionel Messi with THE final dance and win the World Cup against current holders, France.
If that is to happen, then Martinez will play a huge, huge part, as former Villa man Schmeichel spoke highly about the 30-year-old and he shared what he likes about him, as he told beIN SPORTS (13/12/22 at 9:35 pm).
“We talk about big players,” said Schmeichel. “He has certainly stepped up to that level. Every time he has been asked a question, he has come up with the answer.
“He’s not made a mistake. They lost to Saudi Arabia and it was interesting to hear how he reacted to that – we talked about his leadership.
“I like the way you said he’s an old-fashioned goalkeeper in modern-day football. I like that he comes for crosses. Not many goalkeepers are coming for crosses. Coming for crosses is one of the most difficult parts of goalkeeping.
“Then I look at the one v ones. He’s very good at that. His catching the ball. He’s very good at catching the ball. But where I think he is very, very good is his distribution. Right at the end there (v Croatia), he is kicking the ball like a half-volley. It never goes above three meters. It just flies up and it’s inch-perfect. That’s a proper weapon.”
MARTINEZ ONE OF VILLA’S MOST IMPORTANT PLAYERS
The Unai Emery reign is going to hot up when domestic football returns on Boxing Day and Martinez is going to be crucial in the club wanting to get back into Europe.
That’s not the target this season, but it will be next season.
Emery is asking his players to play out from the back a lot more and if they can get that part of the game right, then they will cut off the mistakes and those attacking players that Steven Gerrard put to sleep will be wide awake under the Emery era.
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