Aston Villa suffered a last-minute setback ahead of their crucial visit to Manchester City in the Premier League, as goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez had to pull out of the match due to a sudden illness. The Argentine shot-stopper, who has been a key player for Villa this season, was already confirmed in the starting lineup but had to be replaced by Robin Olsen just minutes before kick-off.
Although Aston Villa clarified that Martínez’s absence was not due to an injury, the club revealed that the World Cup winner had developed a fever, forcing Olsen to step in as the starting goalkeeper. Martínez has been in fine form this season, making crucial saves in 29 out of 31 Premier League games, while Olsen has only featured once as a replacement earlier in the season.
Aston Villa took to social media to announce the late change in their goalkeeping department, with Olsen set to start against Manchester City. The Swedish goalkeeper last started in the UEFA Conference League and will now have the opportunity to showcase his skills in a high-profile Premier League clash.
This unexpected change in goalkeeping personnel adds an extra layer of intrigue to the match, as Aston Villa look to secure a positive result against a formidable Manchester City side. Villa will be hoping that Olsen can step up to the challenge and help them navigate this crucial fixture in the race for European qualification.