Emiliano Martinez has full confidence in the team and is convinced that they can win the game.

Ahead of the Europa League final against Freiburg, Emiliano Martinez stated in an interview that he believes Aston Villa are fully capable of winning the title. The Argentine goalkeeper also spoke about his journey from a low point to a high point with the national team, ultimately becoming a champion, and expressed his anticipation of winning his first trophy since joining Villa.  

The goalkeeper said, "When I first participated in the Copa America, Argentina had already lost several finals in penalty shootouts and had also lost the Copa America final in two consecutive editions. Therefore, when I first participated in this tournament, I had never really seen Argentina win the championship. And the current situation gives me a similar feeling."  

“Many Aston Villa fans would say they’ve never seen the team reach a European final or win a trophy. So my mindset right now is very similar to when I first participated in the Copa America.”  

“I believe we can win the game, I believe in my team, and I believe in my own abilities. I will step onto the court with the belief that we must win the final. These moments are always enjoyable because I am fighting for my people and my family.”  

Emiliano Martinez, 33, has made 10 appearances in European competitions this season, keeping five clean sheets, including a crucial shutout in the second leg of the semi-final that helped Aston Villa reach the final in Istanbul. Since joining from Arsenal in 2020, he has made 255 appearances for Aston Villa, marking a breakthrough and significant advancement in his career at Birmingham.  

Emiliano Martinez said: "I have always had immense respect and love for Aston Villa, and a strong sense of responsibility towards the club. I won the World Cup and the Golden Glove during my time with Aston Villa. Therefore, I will always love this club. One day I will retire, and others will take my place in guarding the goal."  

"Despite the many difficulties we faced this season, we still reached the finals of European competitions and qualified for the Champions League again. We have a top-class coach, an excellent captain, and a group of very good core players. When the team is truly united, we are capable of defeating any opponent."  

Under Unai Emery's leadership, the core players mentioned by Emiliano Martinez are helping Aston Villa achieve continuous breakthroughs, and the team's next goal is undoubtedly to win the championship. Regarding this, Emiliano Martinez said: "Since I joined the club, I have been playing alongside John McGinn, Ezri Konsa, Ollie Watkins, Tyron Mings, and Matty Cash."  

"Over the years, we've been through a lot together, going from a mid-table team to European competition qualification, to the semi-finals, and now we've finally reached the final. I think we deserve all of this, and the fans deserve it too. Our head coach has led the team to the final of this competition five times, so we don't want anyone else sitting on the bench leading us in tomorrow's European final."  

Image source: Internet/Aston Villa official website