Emi Buendía has spoken candidly about the impact of the summer transfer window on his teammate Emi Martínez and praised the goalkeeper’s renewed focus and determination at Aston Villa.
The 33-year-old Martínez played a pivotal role in Villa’s commanding 4-0 victory over Bournemouth, notably saving a crucial penalty when the score was 2-0, helping ensure his team’s dominance. Buendía himself opened the scoring with a free-kick, followed by Amadou Onana’s goal before halftime. Despite Bournemouth’s early pressure and opportunities, Martínez made several impressive saves, including denying Evanilson inside the box and tipping a deflected shot from Alex Scott over the bar early in the second half.
The highlight came in the 67th minute when Martínez expertly saved a penalty awarded after a Morgan Rogers handball, blocking Antoine Semenyo’s spot-kick in front of the Holte End. Reflecting on the moment, Buendía said, “When you have the best goalkeeper in the world in that kind of moment, the game could change, but he did his work and helped the team push for the last minutes.”
READ MORE: New 20mph Speed Limit Enforced 24/7 for Eight Months on Clodgey Lane
READ MORE: HMRC Considers Ending Exemptions on UK’s Most Hated Tax
The summer transfer window brought uncertainty for Martínez, who was linked with a move to Manchester United and was eventually left out of the squad against Crystal Palace amid speculation about his future. He also lost the club’s vice-captaincy during this period. Despite these challenges, Buendía emphasized Martínez’s commitment and resilience.
“After the break and the transfer window, he has shown everyone he is really focused on the club. He’s been here for five years and always tries his best. He trains hard and pushes himself to be the best,” Buendía remarked.
Buendía acknowledged that mistakes can happen, citing an error in a previous match against Liverpool, but praised Martínez for learning from those experiences and driving the team forward. “It is really important to have someone with that mindset because he pushes everyone to improve,” he added.
With Manchester United ultimately pursuing another goalkeeper, Martínez remains a key figure at Aston Villa. Buendía confirmed his teammate’s emotional adjustment and ongoing quality. “Sometimes these things can affect you emotionally, but he works hard and showed his quality not just with the penalty save but also with the incredible save from the deflection,” he explained.
“Watching the replay was unbelievable — the strength and reflexes to jump and keep the ball out were crucial. We feel confident having a strong man in goal,” Buendía said. He also praised backup keeper Marco, praising both players for exemplifying the strong mentality Aston Villa strives for within its squad.
As Villa continue their season, Martínez’s steadfast presence provides stability for the team both on and off the pitch, epitomizing the resilience and professionalism that Buendía highlighted in his comments.