Unai Emery, great specialist in the Europa League, will he reoffend?
The Spanish coach, at the helm of Villarreal, will have to overcome Manchester United on Wednesday in the final in Gdansk (Poland) to maintain his legend.
Three days before the Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea, the Red Devils, recent runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League, leave with the favors of the predictions against the 7th of the last Liga, but who made the League Europa his garden.
Since arriving on the bench at the start of the season, Unai Emery has revived hope among supporters of Villarreal, a medium-sized town in the agricultural suburb north of Valencia (Spain).
The team is preparing to play in the first European final in its history.
Over the past eight seasons, the former PSG coach will play his 5th C3 final.
He won three in a row with Sevilla (2014, 2015, 2016), before losing one with Arsenal, in 2019 against Chelsea (4-1).
Unbeaten in C3 this season
Sacked by the Gunners at the end of November 2019, Unai Emery also had the opportunity to remember the good memories of the London club he released in the semi-finals (2-1, 0-0).
"There is no revenge to be taken with the clubs or the English people," he nevertheless assured at a pre-match press conference.
Despite a less challenging course than that of their opponent who also took out AC Milan and Roma, Villarreal is undefeated in C3 this season, with twelve wins and two draws.
Strong defensively and above all formidably intelligent tactically, the "Yellow Submarine" also has a formidable offensive armada, the fourth attack in La Liga, behind the top three made up of the two clubs of Madrid and Barça.
One man in particular embodies that firepower, with 29 goals scored this season in all competitions: Gerard Moreno.
Beyond the personal legend of their coach who could become the first technician to win the C3 four times, there is above all a major stake for the Spaniards: a place in the next Champions League if they win.
"We have the possibility to play for a title, the Europa League, which is important, but also to win it to play the Champions League, which we cannot do through the championship," insisted Unai Emery.
"Quiet trust"
For their part, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Manchester United have the opportunity to validate their return to the fore, although they have been returned to the competition, after their third place in the group stage of the Champions League.
The Norwegian coach did not hesitate to show his "quiet confidence" before the final, even if he will most likely be deprived of his captain and defense leader, Harry Maguire, injured in an ankle in early May in the league.
Despite the disappointment of his elimination from the Champions League in the fall, his team has continued to gain strength over the months, now showing great control and real cohesion between its main individuals, like a Bruno Fernandes with the baton and set pieces and a Paul Pogba who became decisive again in the midfield.
In attack, the tone of Marcus Rashford and the instinct of Edinson Cavani can pose big problems for the Spaniards.
Weaned from titles since 2017 and their last success in this same competition, under the orders of José Mourinho at the time, the Mancunians were promised 4 million pounds (4.6 million euros) to share if they managed to beat Unai Emery's men.
After two and a half seasons on the Mancunian bench without winning a title, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also holds, with this final, his first opportunity to garnish his coaching record in Manchester.
Verdict tonight.
See you at 9 p.m. on the France 24 website to follow our live blog of the match!
With AFP
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