Sevilla, the Kings of the Europa League have been crowned as the champions for a record seventh time. The Spanish club defeated AS Roma in penalties after the normal game time saw the scoreline 1-1.
Jose Mourinho was on track to become the most decorated European manager in history with six trophies when Paulo Dybala defied an ankle injury he has been carrying for the last month to put the Serie A side in front in a scrappy affair in Budapest. However, Gianluca Mancini, who had provided the assist for Dybala, put it into his own net as the game finished 1-1 after 120 minutes then missed from the spot, as did Roger Ibanez before Montiel scored the decisive penalty to secure a 4-1 shootout win for the Spaniards.
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The Spanish side who have won every UEFA Cup/Europa League final they have featured in, have now won the competition four times more than any club, with Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid all on three successes.
Jose Mourinho, who won the UEFA Europa Conference League final with AS Roma stated, “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.”
He further added, “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.”
Sevilla are having a torrid time in the La Liga. The club is currently placed 11th on the points table. The Europa League final victory is even more remarkable considering manager Jose Luis Mendilibar was appointed in mid-March with his side fighting against relegation from La Liga.
