![Colin Hay Discusses Men at Work, His Solo Career, and the Music Biz [Part One]](https://fastly-s3.allmusic.com/cms/30954/ColinHay1__large.jpg?#)
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2024/02/04/3880159-78836108-2560-1440.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67131045/1261725039.jpg.0.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66321622/1206682849.jpg.0.jpg)
‘He’s a comedian’ – Fans in stitches at Unai Emery’s bizarre response to Emi Martinez question
Unai Emery repeatedly gave a blunt two-word answer when asked about Emiliano Martinez’s absence against Crystal Palace. The Aston Villa boss was questioned on his goalkeeping selection prior to kick-off on Sunday. Sky SportsEmery kept it brief with his response to questions regarding Martinez’s Villa future[/caption] GettyThe World Cup winner was left out of the matchday squad to face Palace on Sunday[/caption] Martinez was not included in the matchday squad at Villa Park amid speculation surrounding his future. Instead, summer signing Marco Bizot returned to the starting line-up. The Dutchman had started Villa’s season opener against Newcastle, keeping a clean sheet in a goalless draw. However, Martinez replaced him for last week’s 1-0 defeat at Brentford. The World Cup winner had been suspended for the first match of the campaign following a red card against Manchester United in May. He was not involved at all against Palace, though, with 18-year-old Sam Proctor named as the replacement keeper on the bench. Emery was asked by Sky Sports about Martinez’s absence prior to the match and had a bizarre reply. When it was put to him why the 32-year-old was not in the squad, he responded: “Bizot, Marco Bizot.” The reporter then followed up by asking about Martinez’s whereabouts. He once again replied: “Marco Bizot,” before doing the same as he was pressed on whether the new arrival would be his number one going forward. GettyEmery repeated the name of summer signing Bizot after recalling the Dutch keeper[/caption] View Tweet: https://t.co/f0pPhILNfn Fans were left in hysterics in social media as they reacted to Emery’s unique interview technique. Commenting on the incident, one supporter wrote: “Emery is a comedian.” Another added: “This is some serious black belt skills in media management by Unai Emery.” Meanwhile, one more fan simply commented: “Sensational…” Bizot joined Villa from French side Brest on a two-year deal in July. Although he kept a clean sheet on his Premier League debut, he was at fault for Palace’s opener on Sunday. The Villa keeper brought down Daichi Kamada inside the penalty area before Jean-Philippe Mateta converted the resulting spot-kick. GettyBizot gave away a penalty to allow Palace to take a first half lead at Villa Park[/caption] Bizot’s day got worse with Palace adding another two goals – Marc Guehi beautifully curling the ball into the top right-hand corner of the net, while Ismaila Sarr nodded home from close range with the Eagles set to end Villa’s 19-game unbeaten league run at home. It is not the first time Emery has stunned fans with his strange responses to a question during an interview. Back in May, he began an interview with Sky Sports prior to a clash with Bournemouth by stating: “Europe. Europe. Europe,” in apparent reference to Villa guaranteeing themselves at least Conference League football for the 2025/26 season. The reporter was left stunned, whilst Villa went on to qualify for the Europa League last term. Latest on Martinez’s future Martinez’s absence against Palace comes amid doubts over his Villa future. Despite only signing a new five-year deal last August, the Argentine stopper could depart before Monday’s transfer deadline. United have been exploring a move for Martinez, talkSPORT understands. However, any potential approach is dependant on their pursuit of Antwerp’s Senne Lammens as they do not intend to sign both players. The Red Devils are pushing to sign a new goalkeeper after Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir’s shaky starts to the season. Lammens has been a long-term target having initially been identified as a potential back-up to Onana back in July. Despite United’s interest, Emery remains ‘calm’ on the prospect of him leaving the club. Speaking after the match, he explained: “We have to fix it with him. Tomorrow the transfer window finishes and we are expecting something hopefully to improve the squad. But we keep calm. “One of the situations we are speaking about is Emi Martinez but we will see tomorrow. Then we try to get the balance and try to work after the break and try again at Everton to recover our mentality.” Emery is keen to resolve the situation regarding Martinez as quickly as possibleAFP via Getty Villa’s transfer plans As for Villa’s own transfer business, he added: “Yes we need some players but now we have what we have and we need to try to get more balance again, more than in the transfer window. “You get balance with the players tomorrow after the transfer window and after the break we have a lot of players with the national team – this is one of the developments we have had in the three years here, a lot of players with national team and we are playing in Europe – sometimes to keep this level is not easy. “Of course we are frustrated when we are not a
Unai Emery repeatedly gave a blunt two-word answer when asked about Emiliano Martinez’s absence against Crystal Palace.
The Aston Villa boss was questioned on his goalkeeping selection prior to kick-off on Sunday.
Martinez was not included in the matchday squad at Villa Park amid speculation surrounding his future.
Instead, summer signing Marco Bizot returned to the starting line-up.
The Dutchman had started Villa’s season opener against Newcastle, keeping a clean sheet in a goalless draw.
However, Martinez replaced him for last week’s 1-0 defeat at Brentford.
The World Cup winner had been suspended for the first match of the campaign following a red card against Manchester United in May.
He was not involved at all against Palace, though, with 18-year-old Sam Proctor named as the replacement keeper on the bench.
Emery was asked by Sky Sports about Martinez’s absence prior to the match and had a bizarre reply.
When it was put to him why the 32-year-old was not in the squad, he responded: “Bizot, Marco Bizot.”
The reporter then followed up by asking about Martinez’s whereabouts.
He once again replied: “Marco Bizot,” before doing the same as he was pressed on whether the new arrival would be his number one going forward.
Fans were left in hysterics in social media as they reacted to Emery’s unique interview technique.
Commenting on the incident, one supporter wrote: “Emery is a comedian.”
Another added: “This is some serious black belt skills in media management by Unai Emery.”
Meanwhile, one more fan simply commented: “Sensational…”
Bizot joined Villa from French side Brest on a two-year deal in July.
Although he kept a clean sheet on his Premier League debut, he was at fault for Palace’s opener on Sunday.
The Villa keeper brought down Daichi Kamada inside the penalty area before Jean-Philippe Mateta converted the resulting spot-kick.
Bizot’s day got worse with Palace adding another two goals – Marc Guehi beautifully curling the ball into the top right-hand corner of the net, while Ismaila Sarr nodded home from close range with the Eagles set to end Villa’s 19-game unbeaten league run at home.
It is not the first time Emery has stunned fans with his strange responses to a question during an interview.
Back in May, he began an interview with Sky Sports prior to a clash with Bournemouth by stating: “Europe. Europe. Europe,” in apparent reference to Villa guaranteeing themselves at least Conference League football for the 2025/26 season.
The reporter was left stunned, whilst Villa went on to qualify for the Europa League last term.
Latest on Martinez’s future
Martinez’s absence against Palace comes amid doubts over his Villa future.
Despite only signing a new five-year deal last August, the Argentine stopper could depart before Monday’s transfer deadline.
United have been exploring a move for Martinez, talkSPORT understands.
However, any potential approach is dependant on their pursuit of Antwerp’s Senne Lammens as they do not intend to sign both players.
The Red Devils are pushing to sign a new goalkeeper after Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir’s shaky starts to the season.
Lammens has been a long-term target having initially been identified as a potential back-up to Onana back in July.
Despite United’s interest, Emery remains ‘calm’ on the prospect of him leaving the club.
Speaking after the match, he explained: “We have to fix it with him. Tomorrow the transfer window finishes and we are expecting something hopefully to improve the squad. But we keep calm.
“One of the situations we are speaking about is Emi Martinez but we will see tomorrow. Then we try to get the balance and try to work after the break and try again at Everton to recover our mentality.”
Villa’s transfer plans
As for Villa’s own transfer business, he added: “Yes we need some players but now we have what we have and we need to try to get more balance again, more than in the transfer window.
“You get balance with the players tomorrow after the transfer window and after the break we have a lot of players with the national team – this is one of the developments we have had in the three years here, a lot of players with national team and we are playing in Europe – sometimes to keep this level is not easy.
“Of course we are frustrated when we are not able to have the level of performance but I am confident that we can find the balance and the structure in everything, and our mentality as well.”
Villa have made just three signings this summer, with Bizot joined by fellow new arrivals Evann Guessand and Yasin Ozcan.
Meanwhile, the likes of Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey have both departed for Newcastle and Roma, respectively.
They are in talks over the signing of former United defender Victor Lindelof, though.
