Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez has revealed qualifying for Europe is the major objective that he wants to help the club achieve in the coming years.
The 29-year-old joined us in September 2020 and has gone on to make 75 appearances for the club across all competitions, while keeping 26 clean sheets.
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Combined with success at International level with Argentina, he has equalled club records and won club awards already having now established himself as one of the best shot-stoppers in the world.
While Martinez will be a fundamental part of our progress and push for success in the coming years, he has detailed what success would represent during his time at the club, and it primarily involves qualification for Europe, while also winning trophies, be it domestic cups or more.
Martinez targets getting Villa into Europe
“When I signed for the club, my aim was to be in Europe for Villa,” he said during a special sit down with ex-Villa ‘keeper Mark Bosnich for VillaTV. “The club wants to do the same, they’ve got big ambitions. We’ve strengthened the squad, we’ve got a squad or a starting XI to fight for top eight [in the Premier League]. I want to be in Europe for Villa, I won’t stop until I do it.
“My target is a trophy or a European spot for next season. If you don’t believe, you never achieve it.”
Naturally, it’s hoped that we can achieve that sooner rather than later, and as we continue to strengthen the squad and look ahead to Steven Gerrard’s first full season in charge, the pieces are potentially coming together for us to push on and at the very least move up into the top half of the table.
While it’s an exciting time for Villa given our growing ambition and objectives in the coming years, it’s also vital that we produce on the pitch and deliver that progress to not only keep those at the club happy, but to also continue to attract players of the quality of Diego Carlos and Boubacar Kamara.
Martinez penned a long-term deal until 2027 earlier this year, and so he is clearly committed to the vision that Villa have sold to him. Now it’s about delivering on that promise and he will no doubt be fundamental in achieving the aims that he has detailed above.