Unai Emery Super Cup history contains a strange gap for a manager who has built his reputation on European success. The Aston Villa boss has won the Europa League five times, but Wednesday’s meeting with Paris Saint-Germain will be his fourth attempt to finally lift the UEFA Super Cup.
Villa earned their place in Salzburg by beating Freiburg 3-0 in May’s Europa League final, ending the club’s 30-year wait for a major trophy. Emery now has the opportunity to add another piece of European silverware before the Premier League campaign begins.
His record in this particular fixture, though, could hardly be more frustrating.
UEFA confirms that Emery has lost each of his previous three Super Cup appearances, twice with Sevilla and once with Villarreal.
Wednesday gives him another opportunity, against a manager responsible for perhaps the most painful of those defeats.
Unai Emery Super Cup record includes Luis Enrique heartbreak
Emery’s first attempt came with Sevilla in 2014, when Real Madrid won 2-0.
A year later, Sevilla returned to the Super Cup and produced one of the competition’s most extraordinary finals against Barcelona.
Luis Enrique’s side moved 4-1 ahead in Tbilisi before Sevilla fought back to force extra time at 4-4. Pedro eventually scored the winner as Barcelona prevailed 5-4. UEFA’s retrospective on the game details how Sevilla recovered from three goals down before losing late in extra time.
Emery came agonisingly close again with Villarreal in 2021.
His side held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw after extra time in Belfast before losing 6-5 on penalties.
Three finals. Three defeats.
Now the manager who has become synonymous with Europa League success gets another chance to complete that particular part of his European CV.
Aston Villa have already given Emery reason to believe
PSG will provide an enormous challenge, particularly with Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Emiliano Martinez unavailable.
ReadAstonVilla covered Emery’s triple selection blow on Tuesday night, with Villa forced to approach the final without three potential starters.
PSG have issues of their own. Reuters reports that Luis Enrique has admitted his players have had limited preparation following the World Cup, with several internationals only recently returning.
Villa also know they can hurt the Champions League holders.
Emery’s side beat PSG 3-2 at Villa Park in 2025, and ReadAstonVilla has already analysed how that aggressive performance could provide a blueprint for Wednesday.
Emery has already achieved something special at Villa by delivering European silverware.
Beating Luis Enrique in Salzburg would do something even five Europa League triumphs have failed to provide: finally put the UEFA Super Cup on his honours list.
Comments.
Loading comments…