Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is unsure whether Emiliano Martinez will be able to face Olympiacos in the decisive second leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final tie on Thursday.
Villa travel to Piraeus requiring a dramatic turnaround after suffering a surprise 4-2 defeat on home soil in last week’s first leg, with Ayoub El Kaabi scoring a hat-trick for the Greek giants.
Emery’s side were without World Cup-winning goalkeeper Martinez for that match, as well as for Sunday’s 1-0 Premier League defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion, after he sustained a thigh injury during a 2-2 draw with Chelsea.
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Martinez would have missed last week’s first leg even if fit, with three yellow cards in the Conference League bringing him a one-match ban.
While he has returned to training this week, Villa will make a late check on his fitness and Emery has full faith in Robin Olsen’s ability to step in if required.
Asked if Martinez will play at Wednesday’s pre-match press conference, the four-time Europa League champion said: “I don’t know.
“He’s with us today, but I don’t want to give information to you, he was injured last week after the match against Chelsea, out for 10 days.
📍 Piraeus, Greece. 🇬🇷#Believe pic.twitter.com/3ac5BCM3cL
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 8, 2024
“Tomorrow, I will speak with him and the doctor to see if he is 100 per cent fit to play, but I believe in Olsen and I’m building the team not just with the players in the starting XI.
“If we did that we would be dead now because we’ve had a lot of players injured. Tomorrow if Martinez is available then 100 per cent he will play, but if not then Olsen will play.”
