Istanbul, “Besiktas Park” and two clubs older than a century, but with completely different histories. The first European trophy of this season will be raised on the Bosphorus - Freiburg or Aston Villa, the Europa League final will be played from 21 p.m.
The Birmingham club is an English and European giant, champion of the Old Continent in 1982, while all Freiburg has won are the "Zweit", regional cups leading to the first round of the main German "Pokal", and they even played in the Cup final once.
That's why Villa wants to bring back the charm they had 44 years ago, as they haven't had much success since then, while Freiburg - a club that was nicknamed the Brazilians from Breisgau during the 1990s - wants a perfect ending to the most beautiful fairy tale in history. And certainly a place in the Champions League.
Freiburg have never won a major trophy, and Aston Villa have not won one since 1996 when they won the EFL Cup, so for both clubs and most of the players the final will be practically something new. However, for one man the match in Istanbul will be just another ordinary day that has already happened six times in his career.
EMERI'S LEAGUE
Unaj Emery has brought back the shine to the team from Birmingham, and in the largest Turkish city they will be part of the Europa League final for the sixth time. The Spanish expert, who is practically the symbol of this competition, has won three cups with Sevilla and one with Villarreal, while he only lost the final as the coach of Arsenal.
- I'm not the king of this competition, this is just a new opportunity. And above all I hope that this is just the beginning of a new era for Aston Villa - Emery said at a press conference.
For many reasons, the favorite is the team that is in fourth place in the strong Premier League, but every rival receives equal attention from the Aston Villa coach.
"He treats Freiburg the same way he would treat any team we play against, with the utmost respect and immense care. He is experienced and we learn from him every day," he explained. John McGinn, Captain Villa.
MIRACLE FROM THE BLACK FOREST
Three years after Aston Villa won the Old Continent in the final against Barcelona, the Julian Suster - a famous football surname, although his career was nowhere near that of the legendary one Bernda.
Julijan spent practically his entire playing career in Freiburg, and after that, on the bench of the club below the Black Forest, he succeeded his teacher from many years at that club - Kristijan ŠtrajhA decline was expected when the coach who had been there for 13 years left, but Shuster showed how talented a coach he is.
In his first season, he led the club to Europe, almost to the Champions League, and in his second season, he reached the final of the second-best club competition.
- It would be pretentious to say that when I was appointed coach I expected all this to come so quickly: However, I quickly realized how much I enjoy this job - said Šuster.
Finale?
- The best thing is that the people from Freiburg started booking flights to Istanbul immediately after the semi-final with Braga.
His Freiburg is extremely interesting to watch with the eternal goalscorer Vincenzo Grif, a great goalkeeper Noom Atuboluom, a talented midfielder Johan Manzambi.
- We will not give up on our game even in the final - added Šuster.
Possible lineup of Freiburg: Atubolu - Kubler, Günter, Leinhart, Treu - Egestein, Manzambi - Beste, Heller, Grifo - Matanović.
Possible Aston Villa line-up: Martínez - Cash, Consa, Pau Torres, Dinje - Onana, Tielemann - McGinn, Rogers, Buendy - Watkin.
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