Aston Villa stopper Emi Martinez plans to become the best goalkeeper in the WORLD – as his coach reveals Argentina star has set daily targets to help turn fortunes around under new boss Steven Gerrard
- Emiliano Martinez has been a revelation since signing for Aston Villa
- The Argentina star holds ambitions of becoming the world’s best goalkeeper
- Villa coach Neil Cutler has revealed how Martinez gets daily goal reminders
- Martinez topped the Premier League chart for high claims last season
Emi Martinez is determined to be the world’s best goalkeeper and is using performance targets pinned up in his locker to help him on his way.
Aston Villa goalkeeper coach Neil Cutler has revealed how Martinez gets daily reminders of the goals he needs to achieve in order to fulfil his ambitions.
‘He is so driven,’ Cutler said of Martinez, 29. ‘In his locker in the changing room, we’ve got lots of different things that he has to tick off.
Emi Martinez is using performance targets pinned up in his locker to help him improve
‘He has to keep this many clean sheets, passing percentage has to be this, has to save this amount of penalties.
‘He’s always got things to tick off. So as soon as he gets in the morning, opens his locker, he’s got these things that he has to tick off in order to be the best in the world.’
Martinez was a revelation for Villa last year following his £17m move from Arsenal.
They finished 11th but had the seventh best defensive record while Martinez topped the Premier League chart for high claims and came third among all top-flight stoppers for saves and clean sheets.
He also shone on the international stage, being named best goalkeeper at the Copa America after starring for winners Argentina.
Speaking on The Goalkeepers’ Union Podcast Cutler said: ‘Last season, he ticked every single one. This season we’ve given him more things to get his teeth into. Ones that are going to make him better.
Martinez has made a huge impression since signing in a £17m deal from Arsenal
‘He’s so driven to be the best, you just have to guide him in the right direction and make sure all these little details are ticked.’
This term has not gone quite as smoothly for Martinez and Villa. They have lost their last five league games, a run that has led to Steven Gerrard replacing Dean Smith as Villa manager.
Cutler says Martinez has a big role to play in Villa’s attempts to reverse their form.
He said: ‘We’re going through a bit of a rocky spell at the minute but now it is how you conduct yourself. It’s your presence now rather than a couple of shots saved. It’s how are you going to affect what’s going on in front of you, the people in front of you?
‘First of all you make sure you’re right in terms of your body language, and how you conduct yourself and how you’re trying to improve people.
Martinez and his Villa side have lost their last five league games and need to turn things around
‘You’re trying to coach people in front of you, help them, demand excellence from them. Then it’s being on the front foot, showing that you’re still confident, energized, driven, because the easiest thing to do when you’re losing games is step backwards.
‘Play safe, get in your comfort zone – “we’re losing games, [I] don’t want to concede another goal.”
‘The best goalies constantly step forward, show that confidence bordering on arrogance, that determination, desire and you can show it with body language.
‘It’s a massive, massive thing. And we’ve seen with Emi now, trying to keep getting him to keep stepping forward and not stepping backwards.’
To listen to the full interview with Cutler on Martinez visit – https://playpodca.st/goalkeepersunion
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