M’Bia hails Sevilla boss after Europa League win

Sevilla’s Cameroonian midfielder Stéphane M’Bia heaped praise on manager Unai Emery after the ‘Rojiblancos’ retained their Europa League crown.

The Spanish side defeated Ukrainian outfit Dniepropetrovsk 3-2 at Warsaw National Stadium on Wednesday night, in the final showdown of UEFA's second-tier club competition.

It is M’Bia second consecutive Europa League triumph with Sevilla, whose fourth title in ten years in the tournament earned them a spot in the next UEFA Champions League campaign.

“After we failed to secure a Champions League place in La Liga (Sevilla finished fifth in the table), the manager made us understand that this final was very important for us and for the club. Today, we are rewarded. This place in the Champions League is a present to the fans,” the Cameroon international told L’Equipe after the match.

“It rewards the work done by the manager for the last two years. He lost his father this month, so we dedicate this victory to him.

“It is no coincidence that Real Madrid want him. He worked hard to get this result against an Ukrainian side that caused us a lot of problems. We managed to react in the second half in the physical impact. It is exactly what the coach had told us. We had to win the midfield battle and it is what we did.”

And the Indomitable Lions skipper, who landed in the south of Spain from Queens Park Rangers on a loan deal in August 2013 before signing a one-year contract a year later, hinted at a possible stay at Sevilla as he is now free to join the club of his choice.

“I think I am first going to enjoy with my family and my close ones. My family feels very happy in Sevilla, but we will see. I will take the best decision for the next four years.”