WHAT THEY SAID

GERONIMO RULLI (Villarreal goalkeeper)

“I had never taken a penalty before. I was annoyed because I’d got my hand to three or four of the penalties but not saved any of them. I could see my family in the stand behind the goal. I didn’t really think; it would be worse to think. I just gave it everything I had. I was just thinking: ‘Just go in, just go in,’ and it did.”

UNAI EMERY (Villarreal manager)

“In the Europa League we have been absolutely impeccable since the first moment. Some days we were coming at 6am to the stadium to prepare a game for the Sunday. All of this makes the journey [worthwhile]. We were talking about enjoying these moments. Winning is another step, an important step. We do this profession for these moments. We’ve been able to give joy to many people.”

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER (Manchester United manager)

“We didn’t turn up, we didn’t play as well as we can. We started all right; they got the goal with their only shot on target, and we’re disappointed to concede again on a set-piece. We pushed, we pressed, we got the goal, but after that we couldn’t control the game. They made it hard for us. We didn’t create enough big chances. That’s the fine margins in football. Sometimes one kick can decide if a season is successful or not. There has been improvement, yes, we were second in the league and nobody really expected that after the start we had. The boys have been really good but just came up short tonight. Trophies matter and that’s what matters at this club. [On his late substitutions and not replacing De Gea]: You go through every scenario. It had crossed my mind in the build-up to the game but we were confident in David. Anything can happen in a penalty shootout and I went with the keeper who had played the whole game. We had players out there who are match-winners.”