Sevilla coach Juande Ramos believes his side's successful
defence of their UEFA Cup crown will improve their chances of
winning the league and King's Cup to complete a historic
season.
"It is a great satisfaction to be champions, especially knowing
how difficult such a feat is to achieve," Ramos told a news
conference after watching his side edge a nerve-shredding penalty
shootout victory over fellow Spaniards Espanyol at Hampden
Park.
The victory meant that Sevilla became the first side to make a
successful defence of the UEFA Cup since Real Madrid in 1986.
"Winning this trophy is a weight off our shoulders and it will
certainly help us approach the league and the Cup with even more
optimism. Now let's see if we can bring another trophy to the
club."
Sevilla followed up last season's crushing 4-0 victory over
Middlesbrough in the UEFA Cup with a thrilling victory on
Wednesday. Goalkeeper Andres Palop kept out three Espanyol
spot-kicks as the holders won 3-1 in the shootout after the final
had ended 2-2 after 120 minutes.
They are now on course to complete a remarkable treble.
They have qualified for the final of the King's Cup against
Getafe and are in third place in the Primera Liga, just two points
behind leaders Real Madrid with four games left to play.
Marvellous year
"It has been a marvellous year for us," said Ramos. "We started
by beating Barcelona in the Super Cup and now we've qualified for
another one."
Ramos paid tribute to opponents Espanyol, but felt his team had
been the better side throughout the game and used their greater
experience to maximum effect.
"At no time were we behind in the game," he said. "We had a lot
of chances to score a third goal when we were 2-1 up, but they got
the equaliser and that made for a very exciting penalty
shootout.
"I think Sevilla were superior to Espanyol, though, because we
created more chances and had more control. Having said that,
Espanyol were great opponents and played very well especially after
losing a player in the second half.
"Once you have penalties they are a lottery but I think our
experience of having played in the final last year helped us.
"There is no way you can prepare for penalties in training, the
pressure and tiredness isn't the same, but we had the experience
and the players were brilliant, especially Palop."
Palop heroics
Goalkeeper Andres Palop emerged as Sevilla's hero by saving
three penalties in the shootout to give his side victory over
Espanyol.
The Andalucians became only the second side to retain the trophy
after a pulsating game, played in driving rain, ended 2-2 after 120
minutes, condemning Espanyol to more European final heartbreak - 19
years after they lost the 1988 final on penalties to Bayer
Leverkusen.
Palop, whose headed goal against Shakhtar Donetsk in the last 16
had kept the holders in the competition, saved spot-kicks from Luis
Garcia, Jonatas and Marc Torrejon to give Sevilla victory 3-1 on
penalties.
Brazilian winger Adriano Correia had fired the holders ahead on
18 minutes but Espanyol were level 10 minutes later, Albert Riera's
shot from just inside the box beating Palop after taking a
deflection.
Mali striker Frederic Kanoute, who also scored 12 months ago in
the 4-0 rout of Middlesbrough in a one-sided final in Eindhoven,
pounced from close range to turn home a Jesus Navas cross at the
end of the first extra period.
But after Sevilla had wasted a host of chances to seal the
trophy, Brazilian substitute Jonatas let fly from 20 metres and
scored with the help of a slight deflection five minutes from the
end of extra time.
It was just reward for a battling Espanyol side, reduced to 10
men after 68 minutes when defender Moises Hurtado was sent off for
a second yellow, who played their part in a high-octane match.
(China Daily via Agencies?May 18, 2007)