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Lengthy after the match ended, Villarreal followers stayed on their toes cheering on the La Cerámica Stadium.
The outcome was not what that they had hoped, however the feeling was of a job nicely achieved.
There was extra satisfaction than disappointment for the modest Spanish membership after it got here up simply wanting pulling off yet one more upset in opposition to a European powerhouse within the Champions League.
“We had been near excellence,” Villarreal coach Unai Emery mentioned after the crew’s 3-2 loss to Liverpool within the second leg of the Champions League semifinals on Tuesday. “We all know that the followers have loved it. It’s undertaking that permits us to expertise moments like these.”
Villarreal scored twice earlier than halftime to erase a 2-0 loss from the primary match in England, nevertheless it couldn’t sustain with the six-time European champions within the second half.
“We wanted one thing additional,” Emery mentioned. “We ran out of power.”
Villarreal definitely gave it run, after having already eradicated Juventus within the spherical of 16 and Bayern Munich within the quarterfinals.
Not dangerous for a crew based mostly in a metropolis of fifty,000 individuals in southern Spain and with one of many smallest budgets amongst all Champions League groups.
“Everybody must be very pleased with this membership,” Villarreal striker Gerard Moreno mentioned. “We exit with our heads held excessive.”
Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp had nothing however good phrases about what Villarreal achieved.
“Respect to Villarreal,” he mentioned. “The stadium, crew, coach — it was unbelievable what they arrange.”
Liverpool will likely be taking part in in its tenth last within the prime European membership competitors, and third within the final 5 seasons.
Villarreal gained the Europa League for its first main title final season, beating Manchester United within the last. It was making solely its fourth Champions League look, having reached the semifinals in 2006 and the quarterfinals in 2009, each occasions shedding to Arsenal.
“We actually wished to offer our followers their first Champions League last, and it hurts that we weren’t capable of do it,” veteran Villarreal defender Raúl Albiol mentioned. “However we’ll simply proceed to try to do issues the best way we’ve got achieved them. It’s what introduced us this far.”
Returning to the Champions League could also be exhausting for Villarreal, although. The crew is at the moment out of the qualification locations in seventh place within the Spanish league with 4 matches to go — 9 factors behind fourth-place Atlético Madrid.
The loss additionally means there will likely be no first Champions League trophy for Emery, who had by no means made it previous the spherical of 16 till now. He has 4 Europa League trophies in his profession, together with with Villarreal final season.
“Though we haven’t fairly been capable of take that final step to the ultimate,” Emery mentioned, “we should proceed on this path we’re on.”
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