Europa League Villarreal-Manchester United, live
David de Gea couldn't even cry. His face only revealed disappointment. Frustration. Incomprehension. The
Manchester United
goalkeeper
had just experienced a situation that is never forgotten. In the dramatic final set that led to Villarreal's triumph,
David de Gea was unable to stop any of the eleven that were thrown at him
. Neither had
Gerónimo Rulli
. What difference does it make. The Argentine goal, when it was his turn to shoot, did hit the mark. De Gea did not. As if the black legend that accompanies him at key moments in his career refused to part with him. It is difficult to forget that
Moscow
penalty shoot-out
in the
round of 16 of the World Cup in Russia
in which he could not stop any of the four launches to which he was subjected.
Villarreal, on the other hand, could already exorcise those demons born at the penalty spot in 2006, when
Juan Román Riquelme
turned the dream of reaching the Champions League final into a nightmare.
This time,
not a single one of his footballers trembled at the maximum penalty.
Neither did
Pau Torres
, Villarreal's boy, who scored 10-9 before Rulli and De Gea settled the task.
"He had not thrown a penalty since childhood,"
confessed
Raúl Albiol
. "The shootout was incredible. I am speechless. My family puts up with me every day. We had not rehearsed penalties.
When we all got together in the pineapple of extra time we said we were going to win.
Because we deserved it. Because we are the host" said
Dani Parejo
crying
.
There are no first times without anguish or suffering. In this extreme case. Not without epic either. There will be scenes that will last forever. Like the blood that
washed
over the face of the Spartan
Juan Foyth
, impossible to contain after a furious blow against
Pogba's
knee
. The heroic resistance of Raúl Albiol, 35-year-old titan in the area against United's positional dominance.
Solskjaer's
expressionlessness
. The delivery of
Cavani
, another war veteran (34) who was once retired by PSG and who continues to honor the office of goalscorer ... The Europa League conquered by Villarreal, a club that until then had only been able to raise
two Intertotos Cups and a Third League
, will also be remembered by
Gerard Moreno
. A footballer who
knew how to mature his talent on the margins of stardom
. Until football could no longer keep looking the other way.
The goal with which Gerard opened the game in Gdansk had much of that roguery with which
Raúl González
carved his legend.
Cavani
had unleashed a kick without rhyme or reason. Without repairing the Uruguayan veteran that this action was only going to confirm that Villarreal, after a first stretch of doubts, would think big. Parejo only had to caress the ball with the appropriate thread. And Gerard Moreno, who saw her coming before any of his rivals, rushed to win the mark from the long-suffering
Lindelöf
, a flan without the escort of the absent captain, the injured
Maguire
.
The Swedish center-back tried to hold the Villarreal forward.
He even grabbed his shirt.
But destiny was already written.
Gerard lengthened his leg and his touch with his right foot was already the coup de grace.
Born in Santa Coloma de Gramenet although raised in Santa Perpètua de Mogoda,
Gerard Moreno
, who had
one of his great idols
in
Raúl Tamudo
, is completing a dream season.
He has already scored
30 goals in 46 games
, seven of them in the Europa League.
He still has the Euro Cup.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
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