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“I don’t know what the ref wants from me!” – Emi Martinez speaks on booking confusion

Aston Villa keeper Emi Martinez speaks on the booking confusion after being booked twice but escaped being sent off due to little known rule.

Martinez received a yellow card for time-wasting in the first half of Villa’s Europa Conference League match against Lille.

He played some mind games, of which he was warned for before stepping up to save a penalty from Nabil Bentaleb, he then shushed the crowd.

Moments after, he made the same gesture to the home crowd, gloating after his save and received another booking from referee Ivan Kruzliak.

Although it was his second yellow of the game, he was still able to stay on the pitch.

According to IFAB rules, yellow cards during normal time are not carried into penalty shootouts, much to the relief of Martinez.

Martinez then saved a second penalty from Benjamin Andre to send Villa through to the semi-finals of the competition.

After VAR checked to see he stayed on his line, he turned around to the home fans behind the goal and did a quick dance before running off to celebrate with his teammates.

Although Unai Emery’s team suffered a 2-1 defeat that evening, the aggregate score was level at 3-3 after the second leg, leading to extra time and penalties.

Martinez said post-match: “You know, its been a hell of a ride on my career.

“You know, I always think I’m a believer and a hard worker, you know, and it was my destiny to win here again.

“I mean, I learned something new today in terms of just a rule for myself.

“I didn’t know in terms of that a goalkeeper could be booked outside of the regulation zone, and then it doesn’t regulate until, in terms of two yellow cards into a red card.

“Its got a bad reputation for time waiting because the other goalie was doing exactly the same thing, and I get booked after the very minute, you know, and we lose in the game.

“So I don’t know what the ref won from me.

“And then again, there was no ball in the penalty spot, and I’m asking for a ball to a ball boy, and then I get booked.

“I just don’t understand the rules.”

Interviewer: “Well, let’s talk about the positives, because how do you keep so composed and so controlled in those moments? I mean, we’ve seen your history in terms of penalties, but with the attention that was on you, the crowd that was on your back, how did you remain so controlled in that situation?”

He replied: “I always say that I own my career, I own my personal performances.

“I know my team needs me in those moments. They always do.

“You know, even yesterday, we were watching, I think, Real Madrid, Man City, and the manager has been saying, like, if we go to penalty, maybe we go to penalty.

“So in my head, I’m always, you know, in those moments, I own my box.”

Interviewer: “I think finally, just for you, it feels like something special was brewing in here. It feels like a lot of the players, when they came in here, they said the road to Athens.

“That’s what they’re screaming.

“Do you feel it as well, in terms of. I know there’s another big journey in the semi final, but do you feel that there is something special right now? ”

Martinez added: “Yeah, look, this group of players and the managers is special. Their owners are really involved as well. So it feels like we’re going to do something special. I don’t know if it’s Champions League, I don’t know if it’s a Conference League, but we will try to do everything we can for this football club.”

Player Ratings (per TNT Sports)

Lille: Chevalier 5, Santos 7, Yoro 8, Diakite 7, Ismaily 6, Bentaleb 7, Andre 7, Yazici 7, Haraldsson 6, Gudmundsson 7, David 5. Subs: Gomes 5, Cavaleiro 4, Cabella 5

Aston Villa: Martinez 8, Cash 6, Konsa 6, Torres 6, Digne 5, Luiz 5, McGinn 4, Tielemans 5, Zaniolo 5, Diaby 4, Watkins 5. Subs: Rogers 5, Bailey 6, Duran 6,

GOAL! LILLE 1-0 (2-2) ASTON VILLA (YAZICI) 15′ – A Lille long ball finds Gudmundsson on the left flank. He sends in a low cross and Yazici – at the top of the box – applies a fine first-time finish which is past Martinez in a flash.

GOAL! LILLE 2-0 (3-2) ASTON VILLA (ANDRE) 67′ – Lille take the overall lead from a corner! Haraldsson’s in-swinger is flicked on at the near post by Andre and it goes in off the crossbar.

GOAL! LILLE 2-1 (3-3) ASTON VILLA (CASH) 87′ – A goal out of nothing! The Lille goalkeeper collides with own player and spills a cross, Duran’s shot is blocked but the rebound comes to Cash, who drills home.

This is how fans reacted as Emi Martinez speaks on the booking confusion…

@DaveDeeney11: Maybe not to act like a dickhead 🤣🤣

@steveayling76: Emi is irreplaceable…no other keeper in the world has the confidence he has…its massive…that belief spreads. I would not sell him at any price, legend, UTV! Onto the semi’s!

@Jay__AVFC: Armband. Now.

@avbiIly: I love this man more than life itself

@JamesKentAVFC: Enough to make a grown man cry…

@holte103: We’re going all the way. We’re going all the wayay, we’re Aston Villa, we’re going all the way!!! 🎵 #UTV

@BackoftheTrini1: Statue incoming

@ellison1604: “ He saves with his face, he saves with his face , Emi Martinez , he saves with his face”

@nicknackjames1: lol you da man, Emi. Big shout to all you lads. Wonderful 💜💙🦁⭐️

@NicolaPartridg2: The best goalkeeper in the world, var none.

@Holte121971: The world’s number one. What a guy. We’re so lucky to have him

@steveayling76: He is irreplaceable…no other keeper in the world has the confidence he has…its massive…that belief spreads. I would not sell him at any price! Love him, UTV! 💙 💜

@Jules83234327: feeling the love and let’s go all the way!! UTFV 💜💙

@CampbellAVFC: You have my heart Mr Martínez 💜

@thelogan1975: This team is just incredible, very below average performance overall but cups is about results not performances. Mentally to keep going is amazing. Emi Martinez the world’s number 1. Semi final still can’t believe it. Get home safe villa fans #avfc

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