Europa League: Indomitable Sevilla Win it Again

0
185
Sevilla's players celebrate with the trophy after winning the UEFA Europa League final football match between Sevilla FC and AS Roma at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary on May 31, 2023. (Photo by Attila KISBENEDEK / AFP)

The Spanish side has continued to show their dominance as they have now won every Uefa Cup/Europa League final they have featured in, securing it four times more than any club.

Sevilla beat Jose Mourinho’s Roma through penalties, to lift the Europa League title for a record-extending seventh time at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.

Roma took an early lead through Paolo Dybala’s placed opener but an equaliser and own goal from Roma’s Gianluca Mancini got back Sevilla into the game and to penalties.

After two missed Roma penalties in the shootout, Gonzalo Montiel, who also scored the winning penalty for Argentina in the World Cup final against France, stepped forward Sevilla a 4-1 deserved win.

It was a dramatic night that had both teams and coaching staff handed 13 yellows card, including Jose Mourinho.

The Portuguese talisman previously won all five of the European finals he had been in, and he was left disappointed to the point of throwing his losers medal to a child in the crowd as Sevilla celebrated.

“That’s what I did, I don’t want silver medals. I don’t keep silver medals, so I gave it away,” Mourinho said.

“I want to stay at Roma but my players deserve more, I deserve more. I don’t want to fight any more for that. I’m tired of being a coach, a communicator, the club’s spokesperson.”

The defeat meant Roma failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League, raising questions about whether the 60-year-old would remain in the Italian capital, having been linked with Paris St Germain.

Mourinho said: “My future? I am serious, I said a few months ago that if I had contact with any other club I would tell the owners, I would not do anything in secret.

“I spoke to the club in December when Portugal asked me, so far I haven’t spoken to anyone because there is no team I have spoken to.

“I’ve won five finals and I lost this one, but I’m coming back home proud again. The boys gave everything. We are all attached to the shirt, to our nature.

“We take things seriously and humbly, we work a lot. Everyone reacts in a different way: one cries, the other doesn’t. The truth is that we are all very sad, with or without crying. Great match, great final – intense, vibrant.”

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here