Peter Schmeichel was full of praise for Emiliano Martinez for the role he played in Aston Villa’s goalless draw against Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday.
From an attacking sense, it was a disappointing afternoon for the team because they just lacked that killer nature in the final third and should have forced Jordan Pickford in the opposition net to do a lot more.
But Aston Villa’s very own number one played a huge part in ensuring his side secured a clean sheet, including a pivotal save from Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the first half, before following it up seconds later with another crucial stop.
Peter Schmeichel understands what that feeling is like and he stated that those stops from Emiliano Martinez were ‘out of this world’, as he told Premier League Productions (14/01/24 at 3:00 pm).
It was another example as to why he is the best in the world and a World Cup-winning goalkeeper because, in the end, those saves were crucial to Unai Emery’s men securing a point.
That was the first 0-0 for Unai Emery during his time in the Premier League and if those clean sheets can rack up in these coming months, then there is no reason why Champions League football can’t be delivered.
And Emiliano Martinez is going to be as crucial as Ollie Watkins putting the ball into the back of the net.
Emiliano Martinez’s saves against Everton
“That was a very good save (from Calvert-Lewin one-v-one),” said Schmeichel.
“When you (Calvert-Lewin) don’t have confidence, you don’t do the right thing. You should never go low because the goalkeeper is always going to be low. There is always going to be a foot on the ground. Just go a little bit higher.
“This save, the second one. He was celebrating that first save and I just said when you celebrate the first save and the next one goes in. What are you made to look like then?
“But he did save that second one, fantastic. Out of this world.”
Mini-break for the Aston Villa players
The Villa boys will next be in action on Friday 26 when it’s a trip to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea in the FA Cup.
That 12-day break is going to do the team wonders and it will allow everyone to recharge their batteries after an eventful and scheduled-packed first half of the season.
Yes, Villa didn’t score at Goodison, but that hasn’t been our problem under Emery and never will be.
If the team can secure those clean sheets, then there is no reason why Champions League football won’t become a reality by the end of the campaign.
