Benfica coach Jorge Jesus thinks his team deserved more as the Portuguese champ lost the Europa League final to Spanish club Sevilla 4-2 on penalties following a scoreless 120minutes of open play. It was the second successive loss in the Europa League final for Jesus’ men, and the eighth time in succession that Benfica lost the final of a Europeancompetition.
“I think in the second half Benfica showed they are the better team and we created chances to score a goal,” Jesus said. “But the better team didn’t win,the better team didn’t win the Europa League. We need to think about Sunday now because we have another final and in football there is no point in looking back.” Jesus was referring to thePortuguese Cup final against Rio Ave.
Meanwhile, Sevilla coach Unai Emery said theEuropa League trophy was the result of “a lot of sacrifice and suffering” for his team. “Benfica deserved to be in the final and so did we. The game was very equal although it is true that theypushed more towards the end. We were tired at the end.” He added: “The sacrifice has led to its reward. We passed through the qualifying rounds with a lot of suffering and in the end it wasworth it.”