Five years on, among a core of Valencianistas, a grudge lingers. Unai Emery, a long-time resident of Valencia, and the club’s longest-serving manager in a chop-and-change era, made enemies of many former admirers one notorious night at the Mestalla and has still not been forgiven.
It was a night much like Thursday: a semi-final of the Europa League, at the beginning of May. Emery’s then club, Sevilla went to the place where he had made his name as an elite coach and had favourable prospects of progress. They brought with them a 2-0 lead from the first leg.
But they defended it poorly, 3-0 down after 69 intense minutes. By the 90th, no relief. Come the 94th, Valencia supporters were roaring on a famous comeback. There was just time for Sevilla to try one last assault, via a throw-in from the right touchline.
Emery gestured frantically. He had worked hard on the drill in these circumstances, cultivated the midfielder Coke’s long throws. His tallest men from the back assembled in anticipation, and via a Federico Fazio flick-on, Stephane Mbia rose highest to stun the Mestalla with a headed goal. At the limit of stoppage time, Sevilla had made the final, via away goals.
Cue pandemonium, and a wild celebration that aggravated local wounds, Emery setting off like an express train with no brakes along the side of the pitch. “A lack of respect,” loyalists called it. From the stands and around the stadium exits, Valencia fans shouted much worse. “It was a natural reaction,” he explained, without apology, “if you haven’t experienced a moment like that, you can’t understand.”
Those words would resonate all the more once that dramatic 2014 semi-final turned out to herald more episodes for ecstatic celebration. That was the year the three-year Sevilla monopoly on the Europa League title began, Emery in charge of all of them. It was the start of Emery’s knockout knowhow becoming his brand and the specific expertise that Arsenal, whom he guides into Thursday’s Europa League semi-final first leg against Valencia in London, trust can turn his first season in charge at the Emirates into a success.
Emery says he does not dwell on the past, a wise approach given how dominated Arsenal’s past is by his predecessor, Arsene Wenger, and given that his career ambitions now extend beyond the Europa League, to a future where he takes Arsenal regularly into the Champions League via a top-four domestic placing. That plan has wobbled alarmingly in the last two weeks, with three losses plunging the club to fifth in the Premier League.
Emery may feel reluctant to look back on the past, but he confronts it squarely now. His Valencia period shaped him as a coach. He arrived there in the summer of 2008, a precocious 36 year old, taking over a dressing-room where some forceful personalities measured the new manager’s scant experience of elite competition unfavourably against their own. Some players had been there since the heady days of Liga titles in 2002 and 2004, the 2004 Uefa Cup triumph and even the Champions League finals of 2000 and 2001.
Emery had clashes, notably with the former Real Madrid midfielder Ivan Helguera, but would depart Valencia having advanced the careers of the likes of David Villa, David Silva and Juan Mata, and with an audit of achievement he would look back on proudly.
“With Valencia, we set the bar high,” Emery later reflected, citing, in his typically rigorous way, the numbers. “In my first 125 games as coach, we had been in the Champions League places for 101 of them.” Like Arsenal now, Valencia’s priority was finishing in the top four, and collecting the Uefa income the Champions League carries.
At Valencia, Emery brought stability to a club prone to skittishness, and he set down roots in the city. He could return there to warm welcomes - until the ostentatious celebration at the end of that epic semi-final diminished the respect.
Supporters who were there on May 1, 2014 will reference that in chants on Thursday. Dani Parejo and Jose Gaya, players on the losing, heartbroken side, will recall it vividly. Parejo has been at the club long enough to remember working with Emery, although not in the trusted role he now enjoys as captain and master engineer of the counter-attacking style the current Valencia have developed.
It’s a style that might just be right to unpick an Arsenal who have shipped three goals in each of their last three Premier League outings. Emery knows he must reverse that slide. He would be wise to celebrate discreetly if he does.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
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Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
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9.30pm: Forever Young
The permutations for UAE going to the 2018 World Cup finals
To qualify automatically
UAE must beat Iraq.
Australia must lose in Japan and at home to Thailand, with their losing margins and the UAE's winning margin over Iraq being enough to overturn a goal difference gap of eight.
Saudi Arabia must lose to Japan, with their losing margin and the UAE's winning margin over Iraq being enough to overturn a goal difference gap of eight.
To finish third and go into a play-off with the other third-placed AFC side for a chance to reach the inter-confederation play-off match
UAE must beat Iraq.
Saudi Arabia must lose to Japan, with their losing margin and the UAE's winning margin over Iraq being enough to overturn a goal difference gap of eight.
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
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PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
Directed by Sam Mendes
Starring Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Daniel Mays
4.5/5
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,000m; Winner: Dhafra, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
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4pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Ashtr, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Majed Al Jahouri
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The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
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The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now