This article contains affiliate links, and we will receive a commission on any sales generated from it. Emiliano Martinez, Aston Villa’s goalkeeper, faced furious Lille fans’ attempt to storm his goal during their Europa Conference League second leg. The Argentine stopper is not popular in France due to his heroics in denying Kylian Mbappe and his team in the World Cup final in Qatar.
As the teams made their way onto the pitch for kick-off, Lille fans tried to climb over the barricade near the visiting goal, following a decision by the visiting captain to swap sides after winning the toss. Stewards promptly stopped the fans from reaching Martinez’s goal, creating a hostile atmosphere for the goalkeeper. Despite the tough situation, Martinez remained focused on the match, which started with a 2-1 lead for his team.
Fresh off a win at the Emirates, Villa faced a Lille side ready for the encounter. Yusuf Yazici soon drew the hosts level in a first half where Villa did not have a single shot on target. Martinez faced whistles and was described as ‘the most hated man in France’ by a French outlet after his saves and celebrations in Argentina’s World Cup.
He was also booked for timewasting, leading to a furious outburst by the head coach, Unai Emery. Despite the hostility, Martinez expressed his love for France, emphasizing his positive experiences in the country and with French players. He noted his admiration for Arsene Wenger and his time at Arsenal.