Aston Villa are Europa League champions after beating Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul, with Jadon Sancho and Victor Lindelof both playing a role in the win.
Victor Lindelof left Manchester United last year at the end of his contract before signing for Aston Villa on a Bosman.
The Midlands club also signed Jadon Sancho on loan, with the United loanee set to leave Old Trafford as a free agent this summer.
Still, it was a good night for Sancho, who came off the bench to play in his third European final – and, remarkably, all three were as a United loanee.
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Aston Villa win Europa League with Jadon Sancho and Victor Lindelof
Istanbul is Claret and Blue as Villa claim their first trophy in 30 years.
Unai Emery added a fifth Europa League title to his already outstanding collection, but this was his first with Villa.
The Spaniard did so after naming Lindelof in his starting line-up as a midfielder. The former United centre-back played 66 minutes as he became a Europa League winner for the first time following his third attempt in the final.
Lindelof was part of United’s match-day squad for the Europa League final defeat against Tottenham last year, but he left the pitch tonight as a winner.
Sancho, who came on in the 81st minute with the game already won, signs off on a successful loan spell under Emery.
The 26-year-old played in all but two of Villa’s games in the Europa League this season.
- ⚡️ NEWS IN BRIEF
- Victor Lindelof started in Aston Villa’s Europa League final win over Freiburg
- Jadon Sancho came off the bench for Villa in the final 10 minutes
- It was Lindelof’s third time reaching the Europa League final
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Jadon Sancho makes history
Although Sancho had a minimal role to play in Villa’s win over Freiburg, the England international completed the treble of playing in three straight European finals.
They’ve all come in three different competitions and for three different clubs, while being on loan from United.
Sancho played in Chelsea’s 4-1 win over Real Betis in last season’s Conference League final, but the previous year, he featured in Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League final defeat against Real Madrid.
It remains to be seen where Sancho will be playing his football next season.
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