Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery is the current head coach of top Spanish side Villarreal out-classed English Premier League side Manchester United in the Uefa Europa League final. Nigerian international Samuel Chukwueze was an unused sub in the game, but his team held the English to a 1-1 draw and forced them to the extra time and later penalty shootout.
The Spanish side did well to defeat Manchester United on penalties 11-10 to lift the 2020/21 Europa League trophy. The Yellow Submarine triumphed 11-10 in the penalty shootout means Manchester United have gone four seasons without a trophy. Samuel Chukwueze has joined the likes of Mikel Obi, Victor Moses, Nwankwo Kanu, Taribo West and Chidi Odiah to win the Europa League.
The trophy is Villarreal’s first-ever major trophy. Unai Emery has become the first manager to win the UEFA Cup/Europa League four times. He won the trophy in 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 & 2020-21 beating Giovanni Trapattoni. Also, Villarreal is the first to win the Uefa Europa League on penalties since Sevilla beat Benfica in 2014.
Gerard Moreno opened the scoring for Villarreal in the first half of the game before Edinson Cavani levelled the second half of the game. Both sides cancelled each other out, almost waiting for the dreaded penalty shootout. If there were any nerves at that stage, neither side showed it as the first 21 penalties were converted. That was until David de Gea’s penalty was saved, earning Villarreal their very first European crown