Julen Lopetegui has hailed his Sevilla side’s “special” win over Inter Milan in Friday’s Europa League final, a result which marked the club’s sixth time lifting the trophy but the coach’s first piece of silverware at senior level as a manager.
The La Liga outfit went 1-0 down early on in Cologne after Diego Carlos brought down Romelu Lukaku in the box for a penalty that the Belgium striker successfully converted. They fought back to lead, however, as striker Luuk de Jong – whose semi-final heroics against Manchester United earned him a spot in the starting XI for the final – headed two goals past Samir Handanovic.
Although Diego Godin equalised for Inter before half-time with his own headed goal, Sevilla snatched the win in the 74th minute when Carlos’ overhead kick, which was going wide, was deflected in by Lukaku.
“It’s very special, always it’s very special to win a cup,” Lopetegui told BT Sport after the final whistle.
“In this moment for us, for me, for all the club, for all our fans, it’s very special.
“And we are very happy because we have worked very hard and we have a happy ending.”
Sevilla are undefeated in Europa League finals, having won the competition in 2006, 2007, 2014, 2015 and 2016 before Friday’s triumph.
And Lopetegui was full of praise for De Jong after the former Newcastle loanee’s crucial brace.
“Luuk is a very good player,” Lopetegui said. “He’s waiting for his moment and he’s ready in the right moment.”
While Sevilla experienced the worst possible start as Lukaku’s spot-kick put Serie A side Inter ahead, the Spanish team did not panic, their coach insisted.
“No, this is one thing in finals. We have [faced] two penalties in the last two matches. It’s very hard, but our team never surrender, never.”
Carlos was arguably lucky not to be sent off for conceding the penalty, but he became the hero for Sevilla by finding the net – with some help from Lukaku – late on.
“Huge, huge, huge, huge,” Lopetegui said of the goal. “Fantastic goal for us, huge.”
Meanwhile, midfielder Ever Banega seemed to step out for Sevilla for the last time ahead of an expected move to Saudi Arabia, even though it seems the Argentine – at 32 years old – could continue to serve his current club admirably.
“I am not surprised,” Lopetegui said of the player’s departure. “I am sad because he is going out, [but] I am not surprised.
“He is a fantastic player, very good mentality.”
