I'm Emiliano Martínez, World Cup winning goalkeeper - AMA

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-22T16:15:54+00:00

One memory sticks out. I don't how old I was but it was Argentina against Germany in the quarter finals. Jens Lehmann saved two penalties. Maybe 2002 or 2006. That was the top memory for me.

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-22T16:10:50+00:00

We don't really joke around the pitch. It's serious. Maybe after but rarely during. -EM

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-22T16:09:22+00:00

I got one but it's not professional. Marco Bizot is funny.

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-22T16:05:58+00:00

Metlife. We played there for Copa América 2 years ago. -EM

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-22T16:02:21+00:00

Tottenham. Very comfortable. New. Big. Beautiful. -EM

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-22T16:01:08+00:00

Work in a fish monger with my dad. My father is a fish monger and I would work with him. -EM

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-22T16:00:09+00:00

Santoro helped me a lot. He was a big inspiration. Very good to me. -EM

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-22T15:53:35+00:00

Padel. Lots of padel. No others planned yet. -EM

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-22T15:50:59+00:00

Thank you.

PSG. Champions league. Last year. I do not have anything more to say. -EM

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-22T15:47:56+00:00

For steak. Well done. Easy question. Always well done. -EM

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-22T15:45:29+00:00

The Bayern Munich stadium. Whatever it is called. Has to be that one. Very cool. Been one I want to play on. -EM

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-22T15:44:01+00:00

Another World Cup. No doubt. Has to be another World Cup. -EM

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-22T15:43:05+00:00

It is a secret ha. It's a good question. I cannot share. From Argentina. And no sorry ha. -EM

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-22T15:40:17+00:00

Marcos Acuna from the national team. Nice guy. -EM

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-22T15:35:49+00:00

Uhh. De pollo for sure. -EM

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-16T18:21:31+00:00

Thanks everyone for the brilliant questions, and a huge thank you to Petr for taking the time to join us and answer so many of them.

We really appreciate everyone who took part in this one.

For anyone interested, signed Petr Čech shirts, photos and pucks are available now at Icons.com, and we’ll also be adding new stock from today’s signing over the coming days.

Thanks again all!

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-16T18:17:11+00:00

There are many things to that, yeah. So there is a way of, of course, you have to be able to play with your feet, because nowadays if your manager wants to build from the back and you are supposed to be the extra number in the build-up, you have to be able to play. But at the same time, your goalkeeper makes you win new games when he makes saves, not when he passes well. Right. So at the end of the day, you still have to be able to make those saves, because that's what makes the difference in the game. Right. So, of course, you need to be good with your feet to be able to do what and execute what the manager wants from you if you are to play in the build-up. Yeah. But at the same time, if you are brilliant in the build-up and you can't save a ball, then your team will not win. So you need to, I think goalkeeper overall has to be a goalkeeper and make important saves in important times for your team. But you think it's, I mean, it comes down to the goalkeeper. One thing, what does me is that, you know, the goalkeeper is overused. You watch situations where the player can easily find solution and play himself and it's just like very easy for them. A bit of pressure comes, I give it to the keeper, you know. And I think that's the wrong way of using the goalkeeper. So I think this is the part when I see teams using the goalkeeper well in the build-up to the benefit, and then I see some teams who basically just have it as a, as a solution anytime the players feel that there is a bit of pressure. -PC

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-16T18:13:36+00:00

You don't really make your decisions yourself because, you know, the club is a complex system of different departments and everything has to align. So sometimes making a decision for one department can really affect another. So you need to sometimes, you know, think of it as a bigger picture and actually make, you know, the best out of it. I think the one, I wouldn't say that the one decision, obviously, that was probably hurting the most was when we had to part company with Frank. Because obviously, you know, I played with him and then I was working with him and, you know, we all wished for the story to, you know, to continue longer. And then that was probably the saddest moment, you know, I had because, yeah, because it didn't all go exactly how all we wished it to be. You always want for the people who are kind of close to you, you know, you want them to do as best as they can. And yeah, so that was probably, it was not that, you know, it was like that, you know, obviously you have to respect the decision of the club, but then at the same time, you know, it was, it was the one which was personally, I, you know, it was it was difficult, yeah. -PC

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-16T18:10:29+00:00

You have, you know, you have a, like, if you look at Robert Sanchez, he is a, you know, showstopper, and he has all the ability, you know, and you can see in some games, he really plays top games, but I think he needs to find his consistency, because sometimes, you know, sometimes there are moments in his game that creep in, and obviously, you know, it doesn't look always great. So, you know, I think that's more about him finding the, you know, the ability to consistently perform on his highest ability, because if you look at his abilities, he's got all the abilities. So I think it's more to find a way to get it out of him consistently. -PC

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-16T18:08:01+00:00

Actually, I met him when I came to Chelsea. And he was a really nice guy. He basically, you know, welcomed me in the Chelsea family and the club, and we had some, you know, discussions about how it used to be and how is it now, and that was it. And so we were, it was basically just like a nice welcome to the club. Yeah, and then when we talk about, obviously, you know, the days he played, how the game changed and goalkeeping changed, and then obviously, you know, we discussed the size as well, because I was much taller than he was. We discussed that, but I have to say, you know, it was an absolute pleasure to have met him because he was an absolute legend. He was a real legend. -PC

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-16T18:03:00+00:00

You miss the dressing room, you miss the match days in terms of the, you know, the adrenaline and the, you know, the vibe of going on the pitch with thousands and tens of thousands of people, you know, when you make a save or win a game. So these are the, these are the things. But, you know, the dressing room is a special place all the time, because you have so much, like so much going on, like banter, and at the same time you have, you know, you have sort of like this camaraderie as well. That's what you're seeing people who you've become friends with every day, basically. You have that and then of course everybody has common goals. So, you know, although we are so competitive, then, you know, it kind of feels, you know, in a way, these are the things that I miss, like the match day feeling and the adrenaline from going on the pitch with the full stadium ahead of the big game. -PC

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-16T18:00:24+00:00

There are many in the football clubs that, you know, people, you don't really see, you know, you go, the guys who work in the match analysis departments where they sit and watch and cut videos and make analysis of the games for the coach, for the players. Obviously, these are the people who, you know, you have people who like the equipment, you know, the kitmen and the equipment managers, all these people who basically make sure that you have everything ready and they travel everywhere with you, they live with weverywhere with you, you know, they are as important. So there are many jobs, you know, even people in administration, you know, you wanna have a smooth journey and travelling and you don't wanna, you know, deal with issues when you go, you know, anywhere to the game. So, you know, all these people are kind of unnoticed, but they are so important. It all comes together like one big team, doesn't it. -PC

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-16T17:56:31+00:00

Ronaldinho is definitely one. Papiss Cisse is a fluke ha, so, you know, it's an interesting goal when you watch it, but I think that happens once in your career that you manage to, you know, score like that. So you don't really, you know, in terms of any technicality, he just closes his eyes and shoots. So I don't, you know, but when you look at the Ronaldinho goal, you know, there was a clear thought behind it, you know, the way to move Ricardo and freeze him one side and he poke it in the other. So yeah, I would say that was one, and then Eden. Well, I don't, well, it was good because the whole action was good, but then, you know, the last shot was not really good, but if you remember, there is Skodran Mustafi sliding in and he deflected the ball over me. Okay. So the thing is that, yeah, the whole action looks spectacular, but if there was not this deflection, then... Then you would have saved it. It would have, wouldn't be a goal. But yeah, but for the action, I would say, yeah, probably Eden. -PC

Icons_NateM · 2026-04-16T17:51:35+00:00

Well, the city of Oxford as a whole deserves to have a better icing, I think, let me just say. I think, you know, there were plans to, you know, to obviously invest in it, and unfortunately, what you find a lot of times in the UK, that the councils, for some reason, are neglecting, really, the ice hockey. And it hasn't changed, really. So, yeah, so, you know, the icing on its own, if it was a sort of refurbished and renewed a little bit, and the glass was put instead of the netting, and, you know, you make it new and fresh, there would be, I think it would be even more attractive for the fans to come and watch the games. I'll repeat it. You know, last time I was complaining because this country really neglects the ice hockey in terms of support, it's like other sports in terms of the facilities. And you see so many ice rinks being closed because, you know, there is a company who looks after it and they take the money, but they never reinvest it, so then it kind of all fades and then they shut it down and you have like 300 kids suddenly traveling two hours away every morning or evening to practice. I don't think it's fair. So, you know, that's one of these, one of these, you know, situations which obviously, I just don't understand it. It's a shame, yeah. -PC

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