I open The Divine Comedyfrom Dante randomly, by section of the “Purgatory”, and I read these verses: “Oh, human people, born to fly!, / why at the slightest breath do you fall defeated?”. I nod grimly, my mind drifting to tonight’s game: the Barca their pass to the semifinals of the Europe League against him Eintracht Frankfurt, and it will not be easy to fly high. For equipment installed in the paradise of Champions, spending a season in that purgatory is quite a lesson. Geography is learned; hobbies are known to live in a hell of flares; It is played on Thursday, for God’s sake, the least football day of the week. Out of suffering then comes a better understanding of the round world, and one understands that all great teams should go through that ordeal from time to time. This would correct the arrogant attitudes of some clubs and their directors: there is the Bayern Munich or the paris st germainintractable and bullies in their leagues, who win and celebrate titles without enthusiasm, and their only reaction to defeat in the Champions League will be more money, more signings, more broken dreams.
Just as Dante trusted Virgil for his passage through Purgatory, I can think of no better guide than Unai Emery to understand the transit that means going from the Europe League to Champions. Four-time winner of the silver competition – three with the Seville and one with him Villarreal–, Emery and his team now await the semifinal rival.
His career confirms once again that football is anything but predictable, and that’s what bookmakers live on. Villarreal has put together one of the most highly compensated squads today, with talents such as Lo Celso either asparagusexperienced players like Albiol either Daniel Parejoand explosive surprises like Chukwueze Y Danjuma. In the press conference after the victory, Emery announced: “We are not going to the semis to be told how nice we are, we want to play in the final.” He was knocking on doors ParadiseAnd I hope they reply.