Emiliano Martinez faces race against time ahead of crucial UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final

Unai Emery plans to make a last-minute decision on whether Emiliano Martínez is going to face Olympiakos in the Europa Conference League final, following a first-leg setback. Martínez, who came to training this week following a thigh ailment, has gone to Athens. Emery will consult with the club doctor prior to arriving at an ultimate choice on the day of the game. If Martínez is ruled unfit to start, Robin Olsen will take over as substitute.

Martínez was replaced at half-time against Chelsea last month, but his penalty-shootout exploits in Lille helped Villa reach the semi-finals. He may make a timely return in Greece.

The Aston Villa F.C. manager said, “I will speak with him and the doctor to see if he is 100% fit to play, but I believe in Olsen and I’m building the team, not just with the players in the starting XI,” Emery said. “If we did that we would be dead now because we’ve had a lot of players injured. If he is available 100%, he is going to play. If not, Olsen has played fantastic in the moments we have needed him.”

“The biggest challenge we are going to face this year” : 

Emery has emphasised the significance of his players controlling their emotions as they face their "biggest challenge" of the season, overcoming a first-leg loss to Olympiakos to advance to the major European final for the very first time since 1982, after they defeated Bayern Munich 1-0 in Rotterdam for the European Cup. Villa, who are down 4-2 in Piraeus, must turn things around, but Emery understands the gravity of the situation.

The former Arsenal manager added, “The atmosphere, [Olympiakos fans] supporting the home team, it couldn’t be more difficult,” the Villa manager said. “The supporters here push them a lot to help them. We have to focus on how we can react. We have to build a new experience with our players … it is the biggest challenge we are going to face this year, playing here in a semi-final.”