Emi Martinez sent important reminder by Unai Emery after big moment vs Leeds United

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery was keen to remind the player - and onlookers - of the club’s role in helping Emiliano Martinez succeed, as the goalkeeper made headlines with yet another marvelous performance on Friday evening. The Argentinian was unfortunate not to have a clean sheet to his name as he commanded his area well and made a save-of-the-season contender to stop a Jack Harrison effort from point-blank range.

The Villans ran out 2-1 victors on the night, making it 13 points out of a possible 18 under the new man in the dugout. Martinez has played a key role in guiding the Lions to their success in recent times, just as he was with his national team in Qatar. The 30-year-old came home a World Cup winner and he now has a Golden Glove to his name, too, after keeping three clean sheets at the tournament.

Emery has repeatedly congratulated Martinez and he has been there to back him up when the headlines have turned to his off-field antics. After the win against Leeds, the former Arsenal head coach was full of praise once again, but he also wanted to put out a reminder of how important Villa have been to Martinez’s development. “He is intelligent. He knows now that after the World Cup he has to commit with us here,” Emery said.

“He came here to improve individually and the club helped him as well to be in his national team. The club helped him to be the protagonist, and [to be] winning. Now we are so happy with him because we spoke about the difference when he was with the national team and now with us. He has done very good work and he has experience. He has been amazing.

“Sometimes he was struggling in his career playing less than he was working or deserving, and I think he is in the best moment of his career. Now, I think, we have to share with him his moment. He is a very good goalkeeper,” Emery continued.

Having worked with him at Arsenal for a brief period and now reunited with him at Villa Park, Emery has gotten to know Martinez very well. There has been some speculation surrounding the goalkeeper’s future with big clubs potentially eyeing a move, but as per usual the manager has been confident with his man-management – one of his best attributes.

It seems Emery has a good grip on keeping morale high for backup options, too – namely Robin Olsen. “When [Martinez] didn’t play as well, Olsen, he accepts his goal and he helped as well. We can be so, so happy with both and especially tonight [vs Leeds] with Emiliano like we were with Olsen in London against Tottenham. That is the way we want to build the team and the small family - to be together like a family,” Emery said.

There is a real sense of togetherness emerging at Villa Park at the moment, even with some results not going the club’s way. Crashing out of both domestic cup competitions is of course disappointing, but at least now the Lions can focus wholeheartedly on maximising their chances of a decent finish in the Premier League.

The Villans will be looking to build momentum now, though they have just one game left in January to do so - away at Southampton on January 21 - before they take on Leicester City at the beginning of February.