What Emi Martinez said about Aston Villa in his Yashin Trophy speech
Emi Martinez has thanked his Aston Villa teammates for the role they have played in helping him win the Yashin Trophy for the second successive year.
The 32-year-old enjoyed another exceptional year for club and country having played a key role in Villa's qualification for Champions League football last season, before he won the Copa America with Argentina for a second time in the summer.
Since joining Villa four years ago, Martinez has now won two Yashin Trophies, The Best FIFA Goalkeeper, plus the World Cup and the Copa América (x2), as well as Golden Glove awards from all three tournaments he has competed in with his nation.
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"I'd like to thank my colleagues, my teammates at Aston Villa," Martinez said after collecting his award in Paris. "They all know how demanding I am. I come from a very humble place and this is something that makes me want to do better and improve. It is the group effort that makes things happen."
"It's huge for me. I always dreamed of playing one game for the national team. Coming as such a young lad to England, to Aston Villa and the national team. Winning once was such an honour, winning back-to-back I couldn't believe it. Winning is such an honour for my family and friends."
Martinez continued: "To be fair, I don't see myself as the best. There are so many good goalies that I see week in, week out. Like I said, I only care about group titles with the national team and Aston Villa. For me, it is about improving myself. That's all I care about.
"Off the pitch, I am a proud man, a husband and a brother. On it, with Aston Villa, we just want to continue progressing."