'The fans will be insulting me' - Emi Martinez braced for hostile reception from PSG supporters ahead of Champions League clash with Aston Villa

Martinez has emerged as public enemy number one in France since his heroics for Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final. Les Bleus were beaten on penalties, and Martinez celebrated with a crude gesture after also winning the Golden Glove at the tournament.

Aston Villa faced Lille in the Europa Conference League last season and Martinez was booed heavily by the French club's supporters. Villa won that game on penalties, too, and Martinez was heroic once again; he insists he is more than ready to return to France when Villa head to Parc des Princes.

He told Telefe: “My team will be under less pressure because the focus will be on me, the fans will be insulting me… I’ve got it completely under control. Against Lille, they whistled at me for 120 minutes, that's normal.

"It's going to be exciting. I've already received messages and everything. We're strong at home, but away, we struggle more. It's a knockout phase, anything can happen."

Villa play three games before their meeting with PSG; they will play Preston North End in the FA Cup this weekend before meeting Brighton and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.