The powers that be at the Europa League final have been handed a late dose of drama as Aston Villa. �s Argentine World Cup winning goalkeeper, Emilian...
The powers that be at the Europa League final have been handed a late dose of drama as Aston Villa. �s Argentine World Cup winning goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, suffered a nervous moment during the pre match warm up at the stadium. With the kick off against Freiburg fast approaching at 8pm BST, the Villa faithful were sent into a frenzy when the goalie appeared to be nursing a finger problem. GoalZaza. �s man on the pitch, Ben Fisher, reported that Villa. �s goalkeeping coach, Javi Garcia, spent several minutes taping one of Martinez. �s fingers. The shot stopper, who has been a stalwart for the Villans all season, continued his warm up with his right glove held in his left hand. While he looked mobile and agile, the sight was enough to remind the watching world of Villa. �s historical troubles with goalkeepers in European finals. In 1982, Jimmy Rimmer lasted only nine minutes of the European Cup final before making way for a young Nigel Spink, who went on to have the match of his life. Should the worst happen to Martinez, the club. �s history suggests that all is not lost. But at the end of the day, the Nigerian fans watching from Lagos and Abuja will be praying that the Argentine. �s fingers hold strong. GoalZaza can confirm that the glove is now back on Martinez. �s hand and he is practising claiming crosses from the coaches and his fellow goalkeepers. For now, the panic has subsided, but the tension in the stands remains thick enough to cut with a knife. Freiburg, the German side known for their resilience and tactical discipline, will look to exploit any weakness. But Villa have their own Nigerian connection to lean on, as the Super Eagles talisman Victor Boniface, though not in Villa colours, remains a symbol of the quality the club admires from the African continent. In the scheme of things, this final promises to be a classic encounter between two formidable sides. Back home in Nigeria, the viewing centres in Surulere and Wuse II will be packed to the rafters. Fans clutching their cold bottles of malt and soft drinks will collectively hold their breath every time Martinez dives to his right. When he finally made a comfortable catch after the tape was applied, the crowd erupted in a chorus of relieved shouts and laughter. At the end of the day, they know that Villa. �s chances of lifting the trophy rest not just on the boots of their outfield players, but on the fingertips of their eccentric Argentine custodian.
