Unai Emery is great at the UEFA Europa League, but he struggles in the UEFA Super Cup. His latest loss against Paris Saint-Germain adds to his bad record in the competition.
On Wednesday, Emery's Aston Villa lost 2-1 to PSG in Salzburg. This match was tough for Villa, even with Brian Madjo making history by equalizing. This loss means Emery has lost all four times he has played in the UEFA Super Cup.
This latest defeat comes just months after Emery helped Villa win their first major European trophy since 1982. They beat Freiburg 3-0 in the Europa League final to claim their fifth title in that competition.
UEFA calls Emery the most successful manager in the Europa League. He won it three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal, and now with Villa.
But the Super Cup has been a big challenge for him. His first game in this competition was in 2014 when Sevilla lost 2-0 to Real Madrid.
The following year, Sevilla faced Barcelona and lost 5-4 after extra time in one of the Super Cup's most exciting finals. UEFA's records confirm both of these defeats.
In 2021, Emery returned to the Super Cup with Villarreal after winning the Europa League. His team drew 1-1 with Chelsea after extra time but lost 6-5 in penalties.
Five years later, he faced PSG and suffered another loss. PSG took the lead in the match, but Villa's teenager Madjo scored just before half-time, making him the youngest scorer in Super Cup history.
After half-time, Désiré Doué put PSG back in the lead, helping the French club win yet another European trophy.
Emery's record in the Europa League is very different. He has five wins in that competition, with victories in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021, and 2026. He also reached the finals six times in the Europa League.
For Villa, this defeat doesn’t take away from what Emery has accomplished. His Europa League win against Freiburg ended a 30-year wait for a trophy and brought the club back into the spotlight in European football.
But for Emery, the Super Cup remains the one trophy he just can't seem to win. Four appearances, four losses.
FULL LIST: Emery’s four Super Cup defeats
2014: Real Madrid 2-0 Sevilla
2015: Barcelona 5-4 Sevilla (after extra time)
2021: Chelsea 1-1 Villarreal (Chelsea won 6-5 on penalties)
2026: PSG 2-1 Aston Villa
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