The reunion looked electric, they were. Emiliano Martinez was back in France this Wednesday to face PSG. And if for him, France is associated with a sweet memory, that of the 2022 World Cup, or even victory against the LOSC in the Europa League Conference last season, for the French, the Argentinian porter recalls the missed of Kolo Muani and therefore this defeat in the World Cup final. And as usual, Emi Martinez had started her “show” and his provocations even before the start of this quarter -final. When he left the plane when he arrived in Paris, he presented himself with a special cap where you could see the French rooster below the Argentina logo and the 3 stars.
So necessarily, as at the Pierre Mauroy stadium last year, Martinez was expecting a tense reception at the Parc des Princes. It didn't miss it. During field recognition, it was greeted by insulting songs. “Martinez is a salo ..”could we hear in the stands of the park. The Argentinian goalkeeper was then the target of the whistles and the Parisian bronca for 90 minutes, on each touched ball, on each clearance. And as if that were not enough, he also had the right to other insulting songs during the match this time. “Martinez Hijo de P …”we intended to resonate in the Parisian enclosure. Not enough to disturb a man who expected this atmosphere and who is starting to get used to.
Heckled but not disturbed
During a good part of the meeting, he made reassuring parades and interposed before the Parisian attackers. But this evening could not yet go well for Martinez who laid her knees on the ground three times. And each time, he could only admire the masterpieces of Parisians. It started with a striking marvel from Désiré Doué. The old Rennais placed a ball under the bar of a beaten and helpless Martinez. This helplessness, the guardian of Aston Villa also felt it when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia decided to make the English defense dance and send a mine under the bar.
Finally, to top it off, the 32-year-old goalkeeper fell into the feigned of Nuno Mendes at the end of the match when Hakimi had also planted a goal pushing the Argentinian to the fault (finally reported out of the game). A complicated evening for him so that he would probably have liked to avoid. But if we can say that he did not seem impressed by the reception of the Parisian public, Emiliano Martinez, who showed that he was indeed a talented goalkeeper, had nothing on his side this Wednesday evening. Fire attackers opposite, a hostile audience, in short, the former Arsenal experienced hell that he will quickly want to zap while turning to the return match.
