Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli takes us back to the end of 120 minutes of the 2021 Europa League final in Gdansk on May 26. It’s 1-1 between favourites Manchester United and a Villarreal side playing in their first major European final.
“I’d studied a lot of the Manchester players and how they took penalties,” the 29-year-old Argentine tells The National.
“But you study and then your mind goes blank. I tried to save every penalty but it didn’t happen. I had a lot of responsibility. My teammates were scoring every single penalty. I touched five of them and couldn’t prevent a single goal.
“I’d looked at my partner in the stands before each penalty in the hope she could inspire me to save every single goal. None were saved. I felt like a failure. My teammates were not. They had scored, I had not saved.”
It was the same at the other end. With the scores at 10-10, it was time for both goalkeepers to take a penalty.
“I was angry when it was my turn to take a penalty, angry because I’d let 10 penalties in and thought ‘Gero, you have to score now.’”
The penalties were taken in front of the yellow shirts of 2,500 Villarreal fans. David de Gea, the Manchester United goalkeeper, came to Rulli.
“He said ‘good luck’ to me and I said ‘good luck’ to him,” recalls the former Estudiantes, Real Sociedad and Montpellier player who was contracted to Manchester City for a long time. Rulli went first with his penalty.
“Gero, please,” I said to myself. “Shoot straight to hit the goal and shoot strong. Try to shoot high into the goal. I wanted to put the ball in the place where I didn’t like to save penalties. Thankfully it went in. If not, I would have felt dead at that moment.”
Rulli then swapped and faced De Gea. This time, they didn’t speak as they passed each other.
Europa League final ratings - in pictures
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VILLARREAL RATINGS: Geronimo Rulli 8 – A surprise starter. Though he couldn’t hold on to a speculative shot from distance that lead to United’s equaliser, he looked solid enough. Got a hand to Fernandes’ penalty, and again to Shaw’s. Then, after scoring himself, he saved from David de Gea. AFP -
Juan Foyth 7 – Took a blow to the head early on after a collision with Paul Pogba but was consistent in winning his aerial duels. He also had the upper hand against Marcus Rashford for much of the game, until he was replaced. Reuters -
Raul Albiol 7 – Made a heavy challenge on Cavani deep into the United half and was lucky to see a deflection from Greenwood’s cross rebound into Rulli’s arms. Was instrumental in Villarreal’s goal, when he cleared the way for Moreno to head home. Converted Villarreal’s seventh penalty. Reuters -
Pau Torres 7 – The in-demand defender was a formidable presence and won everything in the air. He was second to react inside the box, though, when Cavani converted the rebound following Greenwood’s volley. He made up for it by getting in the way of Cavani’s header in the last 20 minutes. EPA -
Alfonso Pedraza 6 – Got beaten in a race by Mason Greenwood at the end of the first half, and though he largely had the better of his man he tired in the second half. PA -
Yeremi Pino 6 – The 18-year-old looked assured in previous rounds and after scoring against Real Madrid at the weekend, he was lively again here. He had two efforts from range, but he couldn’t add to his seven goals for the season. EPA -
Etienne Capoue 6 – Frustrated Bruno Fernandes throughout, though he was booked from bringing down the Portuguese midfielder in the second half and walked a tightrope for much of the last half hour. Made an excellent intervention to deny Rashford in the first half of extra-time. AFP -
Dani Parejo 8 – Delivered a tantalising cross behind United’s high line for Moreno to break the deadlock, and was generally everywhere when it came to covering for his teammates. Protected the ball well in the final third. Scored his side’s fifth penalty. Getty -
Manu Trigueros 6 – His highlight was when he made a late run to fashion a shot at goal at the back post, but he was stretched and ended up clearing the ball high and wide. EPA -
Gerard Moreno 7 – Was forced to play deep in an effort to support his team’s defence, but then popped up at the other end with the opening goal. United’s defence lost him at a free-kick, and he glanced the ball into the net for his 30th goal of the season. Took his penalty well. PA -
Carlos Bacca 7 – Delivered a cross with an impressive rabona and worked tirelessly throughout, holding the ball up and bringing others into play. EPA -
SUBS: Francis Coquelin 6 (Bacca) – His arrival seemed an overly defensive play by Emeri, and it looked as though he was happy to settle for extra-time. The Frenchman found the top corner with his penalty, Villarreal’s eighth. EPA -
Paco Alcacer (Pino) 5 – Joined Moreno in attack but couldn’t find the net despite having a great chance in extra-time. Tucked his penalty past De Gea’s low dive. EPA -
Moi Gomez (Trigueros) 6 – Should have sealed glory but opted instead to square the ball to Moreno, who blazed wide. Converted Villarreal’s sixth penalty straight down the middle. EPA -
Alberto Moreno (Pedraza) 6 – Had a great chance to score just before the 100-minute mark but blazed high and wide. Then saw a shot blocked in the second half of extra time. Struck his penalty hard and low to De Gea’s left. Reuters -
Mario Gaspar (Foyth) 5 – Played a neat ball to Torres at the death in normal time but his teammate couldn’t keep it down. Villarreal’s longest-serving player scored Villarreal’s ninth penalty. Reuters -
Dani Raba (Capoue) N/A – Came on in injury time and didn’t have time to make an impact… until he stroked home his penalty down the centre of the goal. AP -
MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea 6 - Selected over Henderson on back of superior form. Distribution wasn’t 100 per cent. Beaten by a bounce on Moreno’s opener and yet another United goal conceded from a set piece. Otherwise quiet until the penalties, the final one which he missed. And then it was all over. EPA -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka 6 - Not always pretty going forward but a couple of good crosses. Pushed up in second and while ungainly, saw plenty of the ball as his team tired. Tackled well. AFP -
Victor Lindelof 5 - Culpable in the opening goal. He pulled at Moreno’s shirt but couldn’t stop him scoring his 30th of the season. The man known as Iceman took the tenth penalty under unbearable pressure. PA -
Eric Bailly 6 - Injury to Maguire meant he started against his former club. Clumsy at times – and was booked in 82nd minute as he conceded a needless foul. Found it difficult to deal with Villarreal’s two deep number 10s, but excellent interception to 94th minute attack. Then careless after 111 minutes, losing the ball. EPA -
Luke Shaw 7 Superb when dispossessing Pino after 16 minutes and shot across goal after 19. Kept pushing forward and smashed a shot/cross to Cavani on 71. Stopped first Villarreal attack in extra time. Took the seventh penalty. It crept in. EPA -
Scott McTominay 8 - Had to protect his defence and stop the balls being played to the two number 10s. Shot wide after 6 when he had time to set himself up. Energy to get around, a block at the other end but told off by Bruno for taking too much time on ball. Impetus at start of second when his side needed it. Got better and better as he drove forward. EPA -
Paul Pogba 6 - Played more defensively than he prefers. Success in finding Rashford and one of United’s better players in the first half. Always wanted the ball, always prepared to tackle as he tried to break down the stubborn defence, but it wasn’t happening for him. Headed over after 87 and knew he should have done better. That’s where he was best though – further upfield. EPA -
Marcus Rashford 5 - Dispossessed too easily in a poor first half. Beat his man before half time as United struggled to get a breakthrough. Set up by Cavani and thankfully offside as he put ball wide in a frustrating second half where he couldn’t change the game. Erratic. Took the fourth penalty. Well. EPA -
Mason Greenwood 7 - Heavily involved at the start as United dominated possession. Dangerous ball into box on 45 was well defended. Featured less in second. Getty -
Bruno Fernandes 6 - Little impact in first half. Or the second as Capoue pushed him deep. A shame. He’s had an excellent season and is the team’s top scorer, but the more defensive McTominay had the most touches in the opponents' half all night. Took the third penalty. Well. EPA -
Edinson Cavani 7 - Brushed Pau Torres off the ball to set up United’s first chance. Intercepted, made blocks and had a first half chance himself, but furious and frustrated with his teammates and the referee. Then he scored, sneaking back onside for his sixth goal in five Europa League games. Headed a Shaw shot at Torres. Booked. Took the fifth penalty. Well. Getty -
SUBS: Fred 6 - On for Greenwood after 100 minutes. Took the sixth penalty. Well. Reuters -
Axel Tuanzebe 6 - On for Bailly after 115. Cleared the ball on 120 as Villarreal attacked and their fans sang ‘Yes we can!’ And then took the ninth penalty incredibly well. Reuters -
Daniel James N/A - On for Pogba after 115. Took the seventh penalty. Well. -
Juan Mata N/A - On for Wan Bissaka after 120. Coolly took the first penalty. Reuters
“He was the only player who I’d not studied because I don’t think he’s taken a penalty before. But when he ran towards the ball, I felt it would be difficult for him to shoot strong. When he opened his leg, I thought ‘He’s going left’. I saved it.
“There were two or three seconds when I was alone. I turned to see my partner. I didn’t see thirty or forty people running to jump on me. My teammates, the coaches. It feels incredible just to talk about this moment, I will never forget it. We had won the cup.”
De Gea? “He congratulated me. He’s a great person. I wanted to swap shirts but that wasn’t the moment. He’s one of the best goalkeepers in the history of Manchester, even if he didn’t have one or two seasons at his previous level. Because before that he was the most valuable player three or four seasons in a row.
“My opinion of De Gea right now is that he’s one of the best goalkeepers in the world. But in the final it was an unbelievable moment for me and a terrible one for him.”
Rulli is expected to be in goal at Old Trafford on Wednesday. The two teams drew their first four encounters 0-0 before that 1-1 at the end of 120 minutes in Gdansk. In their sixth meeting United really need a win after losing their first Champions League group game in Berne two weeks ago. Villarreal drew their first game at home to Atalanta.
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Young Boys' Jordan Siebatcheu slots the winning goal past Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea in the Champions League game on Tuesday, September 14. EPA -
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw after opening the scoring at the Stadion Wankdorf. Getty -
United's Donny van de Beek is fouled by Nicolas Ngamaleu of Young Boys. AP -
United left-back Luke Shaw under pressure from Christopher Martins Pereira and Christian Fassnacht of Young Boys. Getty -
Cristiano Ronaldo opens the scoring for Manchester United. Getty -
Young Boys midfielder Christopher Martins reacts after a challenge by Aaron Wan-Bissaka that saw the United player sent-off. AFP -
Youn Boys fans at Stadion Wankdorf in Bern. Reuters -
Young Boys' Jordan Siebatcheu celebrates scoring their winner. Reuters -
Referee Francois Letexier shows United full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka a red card. Getty -
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after opening the scoring. Getty -
Young Boys Nicolas Ngamaleu celebrates with teammate Jordan Siebatcheu after scoring the equalizer. EPA -
United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Mohamed Ali Camara of Young Boys challenge for a header. AFP -
Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu celebrates with teammates after scoringfor Young Boys. Getty -
United midfielder Paul Pogba on the ball. AFP -
United's Cristiano Ronaldo goes down in thebox under the challenge of Mohamed Ali Camara of Young Boys but no penalty was given. Getty -
Young Boys' Christian Fassnacht and Luke Shaw of United battle for possession. Getty -
Young Boys' Moumi Ngamaleu celebrates scoring. Reuters -
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea makes a save. Reuters
Unai Emery’s side draw a lot — five of their six league games so far including a 0-0 in the Bernabeu against Real Madrid on Saturday. They were also drawing 1-1 against Chelsea at the end of the European Super Cup in Belfast last month. Chelsea won on 6-5 on penalties, but 2021 will be remembered for one of Villarreal’s greatest years after Gdansk in May.
“If I could choose to save a penalty from De Gea or another player, I would choose another player. I have an affinity with goalkeepers, our position is different. I didn’t think about that in Gdansk but I started to think that a lot two or three months later. I wished I’d saved from Cavani or Rashford or Bruno Fernandes. But I saved from De Gea and then I scored. I felt a liberation. It was incredible. The job of the goalkeeper is to save and not score.”
Rulli feels Villarreal, from a town north of Valencia of only 50,000 famous for making ceramics, deserved their triumph.
“I’d watched Manchester United and we knew everything about the team,” he explains. “We played the game in the Europa final like it was the last of our career. We played like a family, like we only had one mind. Our manager told us to do that, that we had an opportunity to enter the history of Villarreal. ‘This is your moment,’ said our coach Emery. He really motivated us and told us we had to give everything.
“If we did that we’d have more opportunities to win against Manchester United who everyone knew were the favourites, but we also did very well in the games to reach the final. Arsenal were favourites but we beat them at home and drew 0-0 away. We can do that.
“The game against Manchester was tough. We had to fight hard and fight for everyone. I think we did amazingly well. When we scored, Manchester came back stronger because they had to. We had to defend very close to my goal. It wasn’t perfect and it was very difficult for us. Then Cavani scored and they had other opportunities, but in the extra time I think we were the better team.
“I touched the ball two or three times only. We played better than Manchester, we had four shots and Manchester had one. We had more possession. It was such a special night. After celebrating with our fans, we stayed in the dressing room for three or four hours. Music. Crazy scenes. Happiness in a private situation. Then we flew straight back to Spain.
“Sixty thousand people waiting for us, more than [those who] live in the town. It was an amazing and then we went to the stadium. I did not sleep for two days and then I was able to be with my family again. My wife had been in Gdansk pregnant with our son. He will be born this or next week, but he was in Gdansk! And maybe I’ll be in Manchester when he’s born.”
Villarreal lose Uefa Super Cup final on penalties - in pictures
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Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga celebrates victory after saving the last Villarreal penalty during the Uefa Super Cup Final at Windsor Park on August 11, 2021 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. -
Chelsea's players during the penalty shoot-out. -
Villarreal's players during the penalty shoot-out. -
Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga celebrates victory after saving the last Villarreal penalty. -
Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta celebrates with the Uefa Super Cup trophy. -
Reece James, Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho of Chelsea celebrate after winning the Uefa Super Cup Final. -
Christian Pulisic of Chelsea kisses the trophy. -
Chelsea players lift the trophy. -
Edouard Mendy of Chelsea with the trophy. -
Reece James, Kepa Arrizabalaga of Chelsea with the Uefa Super Cup. -
A Chelsea fan watches on during the Uefa Super Cup 2021 match against Villarreal. -
Villarreal fans at Windsor Park. -
Kai Havertz and Timo Werner of Chelsea pose with the Uefa Super Cup Trophy. -
Callum Hudson-Odoi, Trevoh Chalobah and Tammy Abraham of Chelsea celebrate. -
Jorginho of Chelsea celebrates scoring his penalty in the shoot-out. -
Kepa Arrizabalaga of Chelsea celebrates with teammates after making the match-winning save during the penalty shoot-out in the Uefa Super Cup 2021 match against Villarreal. -
Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea celebrates with the Uefa Super Cup with Chelsea fans. -
Thiago Silva and Mason Mount of Chelsea celebrate. -
The Uefa Super Cup trophy. -
Emerson Palmieri of Chelsea poses for a photo with the Uefa Super Cup. -
Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea holds the Uefa Super Cup.
Rulli was pleased when Manchester United were drawn as their opponents. “It was special to be drawn against United again,” he added. |I want to play at Old Trafford for the first time and I think it will be a top match.”
He’s in a good place now, but he wasn’t even Villarreal’s number one goalkeeper for much of last season. That was Sergio Asenjo, the former Atletico goalkeeper who was displaced by one David de Gea in 2010. Rulli was preferred for European matches.
Rulli grew up in La Plata, a football and university city hour south of Buenos Aires.
“I supported Estudiantes as a child and went to the games with my friends. Every game. My hero was Juan Sebastian Veron and I got to play with him after he came back from Europe. He helped me understand football better, on and off the field. He was 38 when he came back to play with us and he was still the best player. The best. It was amazing to watch him.”
Estudiantes infamously beat Manchester United in two highly controversial, ill-tempered games in the English estimation to win the Inter Continental Cup in 1968, although Estudiantes fans don’t see it like that. “We all know about these games at Estudiantes,” says Rulli. “Part of our history.”
Ex-United defender Marcos Rojo was another of his teammates and Rulli is keen to point out how Rojo is prospering at Boca Juniors. Rulli broke into Estudiantes’ first team but wanted to play in Europe.
After making his debut at 19, he had three years, including the final one as first choice, before moving to Real Sociedad in 2014. His rights were bought by Uruguayan side Deportivo Maldonado, who had a link with Manchester City.
In 2014, David Moyes became his manager. “A very different coach to any I’d had before,” explains Rulli. “He saw football in a different way. The Spanish coaches are more tactical, the English coaches more on the physical side.
“I have very good memories of him. I spoke to him in English. David and his staff were special for me and encouraged me and improved me. I was sad when he left but I’m happy he’s doing well at West Ham.”
The sentiments are mutual. “He was a great lad, still a youngster, who’d just broken into the Real Sociedad team,” Moyes tells The National.
“I really liked him and his personality. His goalkeeping was from a different culture to what I knew — more South American in his style. He would close spaces down very quickly and get towards the attackers whereas I was used to see goalkeepers get set early to make their save.
“I’d watch him in training in San Sebastian and think ‘wow, this is completely different to what I’ve seen so far. Billy [McKinlay, Moyes’ assistant] and I still talk about him, we have fond memories of him and were pleased watching him in that great run in the Europa League last year.
“I always want to see players I’ve worked with be successful and I’m pleased he’s having a good career. He was outstanding when we beat Barcelona 1-0.”
It was Barcelona’s last defeat before they won the treble and Rulli was called up to play with the Argentina national team and was roommates with Sergio Romero in the national team for a couple of years before representing his country at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Rulli was a star at Sociedad and was bought by Manchester City for £4 million, but it was not what he expected.
“But I never went to Manchester and didn’t play a game for City,” he explains. “This week will be my first time in Manchester. City loaned me straight back to Real Sociedad.”
Rulli stayed in the Basque Country until a 2019 loan to Montpellier. “I had to go there to clear my mind, to play matches, to improve. That happened and I’m glad I played in France.”
After a year in Ligue 1 he joined Villarreal on a four-year contract. “There was a strong history of Argentina players here, Palermo, Riquelme, Sorin. And other South Americans. But that was 20 years ago.”
“He’s a very good professional on and off the pitch,” Villarreal’s goalkeeping coach Javi Garcia tells The National. “Respect when he plays and respectful when he doesn’t. He’s very open minded to new concepts. He knows his position very well and is capable is seeing the situations of others. He loves competition, he enjoys it.”
“Now, our aim this season is to improve,” concludes Rulli. “That will be difficult because we won the Europa League last year, but we want to be a top four or five team in La Liga. We want to do an amazing job in the Champions League and we know we are capable to do that. We’re in a very hard group. There is no favourite now.
“It was Manchester but they lost their first game. We drew with Atalanta and we are similar teams, both very offensive. Playing Manchester United will be tough, we know that. But it will be tough for them too and they know that too.”
