EUROPA LEAGUE 2020-21 AWARDS THERE’S LITTLE SURPRISE WHO GETS THE NOD AS COACH OF THE TOURNAMENT – THE SERIAL EUROPA LEAGUE WINNER WHO MASTERMINDED VILLARREAL’S SHOCKING SUCCESS…
“VILLARREAL ROSE TO UNPRECEDENTED HEIGHTS”
did get back on level terms through Edinson Cavani in the second half, but for all their possession, the Reds failed to produce many clear opportunities after that. Whereas Emery shuffled his pack and made five substitutions inside 90 minutes, Solskjaer was afraid to ring the changes and didn’t make any subs until the 100th minute. Even then it was to remove a genuine goal threat in the form of Mason Greenwood, replacing the young Englishman with defensive midfielder Fred. Although the United boss clearly felt those on the bench wouldn’t strengthen his team, hindsight shows his reluctance to make any changes was detrimental to United’s chances. They looked out on their feet in extra-time and created almost nothing, while Villarreal were buoyant and looked the far more likely team to win. It’s easy to look at the experience of both coaches in this instance. Villarreal had Emery calling the shots, a man who won the Europa League three years in a row with Sevilla between 2014 and 2016. United, on the other hand, had a relative novice in Solskjaer. The Norwegian may have had the far more illustrious playing career, netting the winner in the 1999 Champions League final to complete a historic treble for Man United. However, it appeared his fear of failure took over in this final, while Emery’s bolder substitutions kept his team fresh and in charge. The differing mentalities of the two sets of players was also noticeable. Whereas Villarreal appeared together and positive at both the end of 90 minutes and the first half of extratime, there was finger-pointing and poor body language from United’s cohorts. None of that, though, could have foreseen what was to happen once the game went to a penalty shootout. The standard of the spot kicks was top drawer, although Villarreal’s
penalties tended to be better placed and less saveable than United’s. There were no saves or misses after 10 kicks each though, meaning the two goalkeepers were forced to step up. Villarreal stopper Geronimo Rulli scored one of the best of the lot in slamming his effort home, while United’s David de Gea produced a much more timid attempt, which was duly saved by his opposite number. The manner of the shootout, which finished 11-10 to Villarreal, will certainly be a memorable feature of the final. What will truly go down in history though, is the Yellow Submarine’s importable triumph in beating one of Europe’s biggest names. There’s no little irony in the fact that the relative minnows of Villarreal were able to produce an upset of this magnitude on such a big stage against one of the clubs who were at the forefront of the attempted European Super League breakaway. Not least because the Yellow Submarine also knocked out Arsenal en route to the final. Football often delivers moments of poetic justice, with some more glaringly obvious than others. In this instance, Villarreal serving punishment to a club who felt they were better than the vast majority of all the other institutions across Europe felt like a seminal moment. Even the very notion of teams entering the Europa League after failing in the Champions League feels strange. On the one hand, it devalues the competition by acknowledging it needs the influx of bigger clubs to give it some extra clout. On the other, it makes it a more difficult competition to win. Villarreal will be very much feeding off the latter. The Yellow Submarine won 13 of their 15 fixtures on the way to Europa League glory, writing their name into the history books in the process. Sink or swim? How about soar?
PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT – BRUNO FERNANDES (MANCHESTER UNITED) The Portugal international scored eight goals in last season’s Europa League for Sporting Lisbon and then Manchester United. He was crucial in the Red Devils’ run to the final, producing a stunning display with two goals and two assists in the semi-final first-leg clash with Roma, as United blow the Serie A side away 6-2 at Old Trafford.
COACH OF THE TOURNAMENT – UNAI EMERY (VILLARREAL) There’s really no other choice here. Out-thought and outmanoeuvred Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the final, producing a finely tuned game plan which worked to perfection. Also set his team up superbly in prior games, setting him on the path to a record fourth Europa League triumph. ABOVE: Cultured midfielder Dani Parejo was a central figure in his first season at El Madrigal BELOW: Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli saves the penalty of Manchester United stopper David de Gea to win the Europa League for Villarreal BOTTOM RIGHT: Player of the tournament, Bruno Fernandes
SHOCK OF THE TOURNAMENT – VILLARREAL GO ALL THE WAY Although honourable mentions go to Slavia Prague, Granada and Dinamo Zagreb for their respective victories over Leicester City, Napoli and Tottenham Hotspur, Villarreal produced the biggest upset of the tournament by beating Manchester United in the final. The disparity in the size of the clubs, their budgets, the circumstances of the failed European Super League and the dramatic penalty shootout only contributed to the occasion.
MATCH OF THE TOURNAMENT – DINAMO ZAGREB 3-0 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Spurs thought they were home and dry after securing a 2-0 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the first leg of this last 16 tie. Dinamo Zagreb and Mislav Orsic had different ideas. The Croatian forward scored his second goal of the game late on to send the tie to extra-time, before completing his hattrick in the additional period to dump out Tottenham and Jose Mourinho.
ONE THING WE HOPE TO SEE NEXT SEASON UEFA need to get a grip on their VAR experience. Yes, it’s tricky when local directors have control over TV pictures, especially as we work our way through the pandemic. However, there’s little excuse for leaving viewers at home in the dark over decisions as they unfold, never mind fans actually inside the stadium.
“VILLARREAL WERE BUOYANT AND LOOKED THE FAR MORE LIKELY TEAM TO WIN IN EXTRA-TIME” 14
SOCCER360 JULY • AUGUST 2021
