Masterclass 2 min read

Unai Emery

Unai Emery
Photography by Sergio Cueto
Author
Ali Tweedale
Published on
February 9 2022

uefa europa league final, may 18 2016

Liverpool 1Sevilla 3

Sturridge (35)

Gameiro (46), Coke (64, 70)

Sevilla were attempting to win their third successive Europa League trophy when they met Liverpool in the 2016 final in Basel. Jürgen Klopp's team were after their first ever trophy under the German, and needed to win to secure qualification for the following season's Champions League. They went into the game confident, in the knowledge that striker Daniel Sturridge had scored five goals in his previous eight starts.

Sturridge gave Liverpool the lead in the 35th minute with a truly world-class finish, so Klopp's side led at half-time. Unai Emery, overseeing his penultimate match as Sevilla's manager before his departure for Paris Saint-Germain, nevertheless decided against making changes to his team. The Spaniard's conviction was rewarded as early as 17 seconds into the second half, with Kevin Gameiro's equalising goal. Two strikes from Coke Andújar gave Sevilla a commanding lead that Liverpool were ultimately unable to overturn.

Speaking exclusively to The Coaches' Voice, Emery looks back over the game, and explains how he overcame tough opponents both on the pitch and in the dugout. 

Starting line-ups
LiverpoolSevilla
221846223710112015312536181542319209
Liverpool4-2-3-1
Sevilla4-2-3-1
22Simon Mignolet
31David Soria
2Nathaniel Clyne
25Mariano Ferreira
6Dejan Lovren
3Adil Rami
4Kolo Touréé
6Daniel Carrico
18Alberto Moreno
18Sergio Escudero
7James Milner
15Steven N'Zonzi
23Emre Can
4Grzegorz Krychowiak
20Adam Lallana
23Coke Andújar
11Roberto Firmino
19Éver Banega
10Philippe Coutinho
20Vitolo Machín
11Daniel Sturridge
9Kevin Gameiro