Unai Emery has changed since leaving PSG, but not that much.
Admittedly, he now qualifies for the semi-finals of the Champions League by leaving big clubs like Bayern Munich (1-1 on Tuesday, 2-1 on all matches).
But he still has greasy hair and funny comparisons in stock.
His post-qualifying press conference at the Allianz Arena is a model of its kind.
"It's an extraordinary feeling, it hasn't been easy for us," said the Basque.
We are a small club, from a village, like that of Asterix and Obelix.
We are going step by step, we had a very difficult quarter-final.
But our goal before this game was not to give a good image of us, it was to qualify.
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Mission accomplished in pain but with panache.
After seeing Robert Lewandowski open the scoring late in the first half, the Spaniards might have feared the punishment promised by Nagelsmann and Neuer before the game.
But it was ultimately from the yellow submarine that the final surprise came.
In the 88th Samuel Chukwueze conditioned Bavaria by scoring the decisive goal.
Villarreal waiting for Liverpool
“Against Bayern, there was a question of mental too, continues Emery.
We knew that when Bayern start scoring, they can put on one goal after another.
Salzburg had taken 7 here, but we had watched the way they played.
With Juventus (in the round of 16) we have taken a step forward in terms of the game, but also in terms of self-confidence and belief in our possibilities.
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In the semi-finals, Villarreal will find Liverpool or Benfica.
The English lead 3-1 going into the second leg at Anfield.
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Unai Emery
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