Unai Emery praised his “impeccable” players for their dedication after claiming Villarreal’s first major trophy by beating Manchester United in the Europa League final.
The Spanish side won a thrilling penalty shootout 11-10, after a 1-1 draw, with the goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli scoring his side’s 11th before making the decisive save, stopping his United counterpart David de Gea’s spot-kick. It was a record fourth Europa League triumph for Emery as a manager, after winning the competition three times with Sevilla.
“In the Europa League we have been absolutely impeccable,” the manager said. “Since the very first moment. Some days we were coming at 6am to the stadium to prepare a game for the Sunday. All of this makes the journey [worthwhile].
“We were talking about enjoying these moments. In the end you are proud to reach the title [decider] but if you don’t win, you are sad. Winning is another step, an important step ahead. We do this profession for these moments. We have been able to give joy to many people.”
Emery joined Villarreal in July 2020, nine months after he was sacked by Arsenal following a poor run of results. The Spaniard knocked his former club out of this season’s competition at the semi-final stage before taking down another Premier League club in United, but insisted he did not see the achievement as a personal triumph.
“I insist it is not a sports revenge at all,” he said. “I try to enjoy every moment, winning and losing. I try to create new circumstances, so everywhere I have been, even in England at Arsenal, I have learned a lot, met many people, other cultures and football.
“At the end of that story was professional frustration, but some other doors opened then. Winning today is a satisfaction, but for my club today, as it was when I was at Sevilla. When I was at Arsenal we played a Europa League final and could not win but it is a process; from that game I learned a lot to win this one maybe.”