Emi Martinez: ‘I broke my finger’ moments before Aston Villa won ‘beautiful’ UEFA Europa League final

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Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez said that he played the UEFA Europa League final against Freiburg with a broken finger sustained during the warm-up in Istanbul.

Highlights: Villa claim Europa League crown to create new chapter in club’s history

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The Argentina goalkeeper was seen clutching his finger and receiving treatment from physios on the pitch at Besiktas Stadium before kick-off.

But he played the full match with some hastily-applied strapping, keeping a clean sheet as Villa won 3-0 and lifted a major European trophy for the first time since 1982.

"What we achieved tonight was beautiful. I feel proud and the feeling keeps growing match after match," Martinez told ESPN.

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"Today I broke my finger during warm-ups but I didn't see it as a bad thing. I've never broken a finger before and every time I tried to catch the ball, the finger would just slip away in the other direction.

"But, these are just things you have to go through."

Villa were comfortable winners in Istanbul thanks to goals from Youri Tielemans, Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers - and Martinez made clear how much the achievement meant.

Let the celebrations begin! Villa lift the Europa League trophy

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"The truth is that the fans and the club are like family to me," he added. "Every time I step out to defend the Aston Villa goal, I do so with immense pride.

"Today, I tried to pour in all my experience and all those training sessions that no one ever sees finally bore fruit today.

"I am overjoyed. Now, it's time to celebrate with the lads. Something that this team hasn't really had the chance to do in a long time. Then my focus will turn toward the World Cup."

Martinez will be out to win a second successive World Cup with defending champions Argentina, assuming his finger does not become more of an issue.

The 33-year-old has continued to excel at Villa Park after it seemed he could leave to join Manchester United last summer.

Asked about last year's transfer saga before the Europa League final, Martinez said: "Sometimes football can change, managers can come in and go. You know, in football people move around the place. It doesn't mean that I don't have full respect for the club. I love the club.

"I have a commitment with Aston Villa. I am a World Cup winner with Aston Villa, I have won two Golden Gloves with Aston Villa. I will always and forever love this club.

"One day I am going to retire, so someone else will need to be between the sticks."

He added: "We have got Champions League again with all the circumstances that we have had and battles we have had this year. We are one of the lowest spenders in the Premier League.

"We have a top coach, a top captain and a decent core of the team. When we stick together and when we fight together, I think that we can beat anybody. I am really proud to stay - I made the right choice."

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