Unai Emery hails Emiliano Martinez as the ‘BEST goalkeeper in the world’ after match-winning display and antics against Lille, but admits he ‘thought Argentine would be sent off’

Unai Emery has hailed Emi Martinez as the world’s best goalkeeper after his controversial performance in Aston Villa’s dramatic win over Lille.

Martinez had the last laugh over Lille fans after winding them up all night, saving two penalties in the shoot-out to set up a Europa Conference League semi-final clash with Olympiacos.

The Argentina star will miss that game after collecting three bookings across the quarter-final, including one during the shoot-out. 

Emery defended him stoutly after the match at Stade Pierre Mauroy and went even further on Friday, ahead of Villa’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth on Sunday.

Emery said: ‘He is being successful individually and with both Argentina and Villa. Having been successful with Argentina, he is progressively getting better with Villa.

Martinez was again the penalty shootout hero in Aston Villa’s Europa Conference League 

Unai Emery called his Aston Villa goalkeeper the world’s best following his display

Martinez and Villa are moving on to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League

‘He is decisive in a lot of matches and of course, he is one of the best goalkeepers. The first, second, third? For me he is the best.’

The Villa boss also feared Martinez would be dismissed when he was booked during the shoot-out, after also receiving a yellow card for timewasting in the first half.

But Martinez escaped because yellow cards in the shoot-out are not counted alongside those earned in general play – though Martinez will still miss the first leg against Olympiacos because of the three yellows he collected across the tie.

Emery added: ‘Yes, I thought he would be sent off. I didn’t know the rule. They soon told me about it and now it is very important for us. It was strange because it is not a normal situation.’