Sevilla secrets to Europa success

Sevilla are aiming for a record-breaking third-straight Europa League triumph when they face Liverpool on Wednesday. But how do Unai Emery’s side keep on succeeding in the competition?

In total, 191 teams entered this year’s Europa League but yet again Sevilla are there at the end, on course to lift the trophy for a fifth time in 10 years.

Here, with the help of Sky Sports’ Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, we take a look at the key factors behind their repeated success in the Europa League…

The Manager

A third consecutive Europa League win for Sevilla on Wednesday would also be a third in a row for their coach Unai Emery – an unprecedented achievement in football.

The Spaniard joined Sevilla in January 2013 after his successful four-year stint with Valencia was followed by a short, disappointing spell with Spartak Moscow. Emery led the club to Europa League glory just months later with a penalty shoot-out win over Benfica after seeing off his old Valencia side in the semi-finals.

Despite losing Alberto Moreno to Liverpool, Federico Fazio to Tottenham and Ivan Rakitic to Barcelona that summer, Emery adapted his squad, got the best out of top scorer Carlos Bacca and delivered another Europa League triumph, this time with a comeback win in the final against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.

Once again, Emery lost key men in the transfer window, with Bacca joining AC Milan and Aleix Vidal heading to Barcelona, but, once again, found a way to the final of the Europa League, after failing to qualify from a Champions League group including Manchester City and Juventus.

Just four starters from the 2014 Europa League final were in Sevilla’s squad for the second leg of the semi-final win over Shakhtar earlier this month, an example of the player turnover Emery has had to deal with – but also his ability to repeatedly re-shape his side.

Renowned for his meticulous planning and analysis of his opponents, Emery continues to get the very best from his Sevilla squad.

“Emery is a specialist in maximising the potential,” says Balague.

“It doesn’t matter that every season with Sevilla he loses 10 or 12 players. Their three finals in a row are a sign of coaching, a sign of focus, a sign of competitiveness and a sign of a very good side.”

Key …

continue reading in source www.skysports.com