Martinez not at level of Lloris, says Conte

TOTTENHAM boss Antonio Conte has told World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez there is a long way for him to go before he can be talked about in the same breath as ‘champion’ Hugo Lloris.

The goalkeepers could face off tomorrow when Aston Villa visit Spurs in the Premier League, a fortnight on from their World Cup final battle.

Martinez got the better of Lloris and France in a penalty shoot-out that saw Argentina crowned world champions. It capped a remarkable journey for the shot-stopper, who only made his national team debut last year following loan spells with Oxford, Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham. While Martinez is currently on top of the world, Conte has warned him his real test begins now.

‘We lose time if we talk about Hugo because his career speaks for itself,’ said Conte. ‘We are talking about one of the best keepers in the world in the past ten years.

‘Martinez, first of all he won the World Cup and he was a protagonist in winning the most important trophy in the world. Then he has a long career to show he can be the best or one of the best keepers in the world, but now starts the difficult situation.

‘Now, you are high but you have to stay high and possibly to improve and show it wasn’t a one-off situation. Important players after a win, they build an important career and, starting with this win, then to win, win and improve their level.’

Villa boss Unai Emery will hold talks with Martinez before deciding whether to include him against Tottenham.

He returned to Villa’s training ground yesterday for the first time since the final in Qatar and Emery will decide if he is mentally and physically ready to return to Premier League action.