Unai Emery’s relationship with European football has produced one of the strangest contrasts in the game.
In the UEFA Europa League, the Aston Villa manager is unrivalled. Emery has won the competition five times, lifting three consecutive titles with Sevilla, another with Villarreal and then guiding Villa to the trophy last season. His overall Europa League record now stands at 70 wins from 109 matches.
Put him in the UEFA Super Cup, however, and the story completely changes.
Villa’s 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain yesterday means Emery has now managed in four Super Cups and lost every one.
PSG edge Villa in Salzburg
Champions League winners PSG took the lead after 20 minutes in Salzburg, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia beating Matty Cash before firing beyond Marco Bizot.
Villa responded through one of the youngest players on the pitch.
Brian Madjo, making his competitive Villa debut aged 17, had already missed several opportunities before John McGinn found him inside the area in first-half stoppage time. Madjo volleyed home to make it 1-1 and became the youngest goalscorer in UEFA Super Cup history.
Luis Enrique introduced Ousmane Dembele at half-time and the change helped produce the winner. His pass released Desire Doue in the 61st minute, with the Frenchman curling into the far corner. An initial offside decision was overturned following a VAR review.
PSG controlled 61% possession and registered six shots on target to Villa’s four, although Emery’s side actually produced more attempts overall, leading the shot count 15-12. Villa also recorded 34 touches inside the PSG penalty area compared to the French champions’ 29.
Emery’s Super Cup curse
Emery’s first Super Cup defeat came with Sevilla in 2014, when Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in a 2-0 Real Madrid victory.
A year later, Sevilla were beaten 5-4 by Barcelona in an extraordinary final in Tbilisi after extra time. His Villarreal side then pushed Chelsea all the way in 2021, drawing 1-1 before losing 6-5 on penalties.
Now PSG have added a fourth defeat.
It is a remarkable record for a manager who has made the Europa League his specialist subject. Emery has reached six finals in that competition and won five of them.
The Europa League master remains exactly that. The Super Cup, however, remains the one European puzzle he cannot solve.
