Long after the match ended, Villarreal fans stayed on their feet cheering at the La CerĂĄmica Stadium. ()
The result was not what they had hoped, but the feeling was of a job well done.
There was more pride than sadness for the modest Spanish club after it came up just short of pulling off yet another upset against a European powerhouse in the Champions League.
바카라We were close to excellence,바카라 Villarreal coach Unai Emery said after the team바카라s 3-2 loss to Liverpool in the second leg of the Champions League semifinals on Tuesday. 바카라We know that the fans have enjoyed it. It바카라s a good project that allows us to experience moments like these.바카라
Villarreal scored twice before halftime to erase a 2-0 loss from the first match in England, but it couldn바카라t keep up with the six-time European champions in the second half.
바카라We needed something extra,바카라 Emery said. 바카라We ran out of strength.바카라
Villarreal certainly gave it a good run, after having already eliminated Juventus in the round of 16 and Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals.
Not bad for a team based in a city of 50,000 people in southern Spain and with one of the smallest budgets among all Champions League teams.
바카라Everyone needs to be very proud of this club,바카라 Villarreal striker Gerard Moreno said. 바카라We go out with our heads held high.바카라
Liverpool coach JĂŒrgen Klopp had nothing but good words about what Villarreal achieved.
바카라Respect to Villarreal,바카라 he said. 바카라The stadium, team, coach 바카라 it was unbelievable what they set up.바카라
Liverpool will be playing in its 10th final in the top European club competition, and third in the last five seasons.
Villarreal won the Europa League for its first major title last season, beating Manchester United in the final. It was making only its fourth Champions League appearance, having reached the semifinals in 2006 and the quarterfinals in 2009, both times losing to Arsenal.
바카라We really wanted to give our fans their first Champions League final, and it hurts that we were not able to do it,바카라 veteran Villarreal defender RaĂșl Albiol said. 바카라But we바카라ll just continue to try and do things the way we have done them. It바카라s what brought us this far.바카라
Returning to the Champions League may be hard for Villarreal, though. The team is currently out of the qualification places in seventh place in the Spanish league with four matches to go 바카라 nine points behind fourth-place AtlĂ©tico Madrid.
The loss also means there will be no first Champions League trophy for Emery, who had never made it past the round of 16 until now. He has four Europa League trophies in his career, including with Villarreal last season.
바카라Although we haven바카라t quite been able to take that last step to the final,바카라 Emery said, 바카라we must continue on this path we are on.바카라
