Carrico dedicates Europa League win to Sevilla's 'star' Puerta
Sevilla defender Daniel Carrico says the Europa League belongs to them after victory over Liverpool secured a third-straight title.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kJqfrteWX4mSTtdn6VXGWo.jpg)
Daniel Carrico dedicated Wednesday's Europa League triumph to Sevilla's "star" Antonio Puerta.
Puerta died at the age of 22 after collapsing during a La Liga match against Getafe in 2007, having helped Sevilla to consecutive UEFA Cup triumphs.
Unai Emery's current crop went one better as a 3-1 win over Liverpool in Basle secured Europa league glory for the third year in a row.
Portugal defender Carrico was delighted with victory, sealed by captain Coke's double, and said the memory of Puerta was a driving force for the club.
He told BT Sport: "It is three seasons in a row now and it is our competition.
"We have won and our star Antonio Puerta is up there, he is helping us.
"Liverpool played a good first half but the manager told us we need to change the game, we needed to believe and we did what he said. Scoring easily in the second half helped us and Liverpool did not have any chances.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
"Next season we will be in the Champions League and it is another challenge for us. We will see what happens next season but it is now time to celebrate."
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack