Over the years, the love affair between Unai Emery and the Europa League does not lose any of its vigor.
Winner three times in a row with Sevilla FC (2014, 2015 and 2016), then finalist with Arsenal (2019), the former PSG coach this time lifted the "small" European Cup with Villarreal, the club of the Valencia region, 7th in Liga, for which it was the first major final.
But it was only due to the failure of De Gea, the Mancunian goalkeeper, at the end of the penalty shootout after a fair 1-1 draw.
The big Manchester United team, the Pogba, Rashford and other Cavani, are at their cost.
🏆 Congratulations Villarreal!
đź‘Źđź‘Źđź‘Ź @ Eng_Villarreal |
#UELfinal pic.twitter.com/1uVHSdwEFw
- UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 26, 2021
Manchester City's runner-up in the Premier League, Solskjaer's team - transferred to the Europa League after their elimination from the PSG and Leipzig group in the Champions League this autumn - monopolized the ball in the first period but without ever really destabilizing the opposing yellows .
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The sanction did not take long and Gerard Moreno, official scorer for Villarreal, 6 goals in the Europa League, 30 in all competitions, sent a distant free kick to the back of the net from the left between the goalkeeper and the defenders (1-0, 29th ).
During the first 45 minutes, Edinson Cavani, little fueled it is true, is only the shadow of Cavani found during the quarter and half of the competition, with 5 goals and 2 assists.
On his only opportunity, the Uruguayan, receiving a long center from the right, prefers a simple reset to an attempted strike (24th).
It doesn't do Monaco's business
After the break, the Mancuniens are sharper and Cavani more opportunistic.
A poorly cleared ball returns to the Spanish goal.
The former Parisian - extended for an additional year at Manchester United - is happy to convert him into a goal (1-1, 55th).
Cavani cuts another shot from Shaw but his head finds that of an opposing defender (71st).
Finally, Pogba, rather discreet throughout the game, places a powerful header but quite well above the goal (89th).
After that, Manchester was quite extinct in overtime and the penalty shootout chose Emery's side.
In addition, the failure of the British does not do the business of Monaco, which will not go directly to the group stage of the Champions League, and will have to go through two eliminatory rounds.