Unai Emery explains why he didn't use Emi Martinez and Marco Asensio
2025-03-09 11:07
Unai Emery says Aston Villa did not take any risks with Emi Martinez and Marco Asensio against Brentford.
The two players missed Villa's 1-0 win over Brentford, having just appeared in the European match against Bruges in midweek.
"They didn't feel good on Friday, they had some muscle discomfort," Emery explained in an interview on Saturday.
"We did the tests and they were still not available. So, we decided not to take the risk of playing them."
“Hopefully they can recover before Wednesday’s game.”
In the absence of Martinez, Robin Olsen started and helped Villa keep a clean sheet.
"He performed very well. He was always ready to play and always willing to contribute to the team," praised Emery.
"Everyone in the dressing room admires him and is happy for him because it is not easy to be the backup for Emiliano Martinez, who is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Olsen is not only a great professional but also a great person."
‘Today’s game was huge for his confidence, but also for the whole team. To win with a clean sheet, to support and help Olsen, it meant a lot to the team. He played really well and helped us a lot.’
