Emery defends Moreno

Unai Emery came to the defence of ex-Sevilla defender Alberto Moreno after he was criticised in Liverpool’s Europa League Final defeat.

Liverpool took a 1-0 lead into half time but Sevilla came back with three second half goals, the British Press picking apart Moreno’s performance as Mariano came into the game more, but Emery offered a different opinion.

“He’s had a very good season at Liverpool and has given a lot. He looked at the level to return to the national team. [Nathanial] Clyne also put in good crosses,” Emery pointed out, AS reports.

“Mariano is a good player. I always see the glass as half full, by his ability to attack and not that he has a defensive deficiency. Coke? He is everything. If I played him as a forward, he’d score goals.”

Emery was also asked about Spain’s dominance of club football as Sevilla’s win ensures that for the third straight year, both the Europa League and Champions League will belong to La Liga clubs.

“I have a theory and that is, perhaps, in addition to the level of Spain being good, it’s been shown that Spanish teams compete and show they can win. They can be on the front lines. We can compete with teams better than us,” Emery argued, before looking ahead to the Copa del Rey Final against Barcelona on Sunday.

“We have another final, and that is nice. We’re motivated and excited to the utmost. There’ll be a lot of people [at Vicente Calderon] and it will be a new challenge. And nothing less against Barca.”

Emery’s future has also been up for discussion as his record of three straight Europa Leagues has alerted Europe, but he insisted he will see out his contract.

“I have a contract. That’s how I’ve thought about work my whole life. I have a contract,” he repeated.

Tags Alberto Moreno Liverpool Unai Emery
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