RAKITIC: "THE BETTER TEAM WON"

Erik Lamela, who scored the winner last night, was the first to speak to the media, and spoke about the incredible scenes witnessed in the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán: "The fans were incredible as they usually are, and as they were against Manchester. It was something special. They didn't stop supporting us the whole night and the team reacted to that. That was what we wanted. We played a solid match today. Even if they counterattacked well, we always wanted to attack and win the match. It didn't come in the 90 minutes. It was a great effort by the whole team. My family arrived yesterday, and it is brilliant that I was able to score. It's been a long time since I saw my parents, it's a special moment."

Analysing his goal, he remembered his finish against UD Almería where Bryan had assisted him once again: "I thought about the goal against Almería. When I saw that he was able to get the ball in, I got in behind the defence and tried to get my head to it. I got to it and the goalkeeper couldn't do anything but watch. It's important because they were compact defensively and looked as if they wanted penalties. I think that we deserved it."

Lamela: "When I saw that he was able to get the ball in, I got in behind the defence and the goalkeeper couldn't do anything but watch"

Suso, whose strike levelled the scores in the second half, highlighted the atmosphere and the impressive style of football on display in the Nervión fortress: "It's been beautiful. There was a similar atmosphere before the United match, but today was a difficult game because they defended very well. We were good, they countered very quickly, but we replied. We have done poorly this season and we have gone through some difficult periods. We need to enjoy the final. The fans deserve it and we know what Sevilla are like in finals. Roma and Sevilla are similar teams with how they play, but in the form we are in, we need to make the most of this opportunity."

Navas: "We deserve to be here, the team has got better with the help of the fans and the coach"

Captain Jesús Navas was clearly delighted following the victory: "This is very important, it's brilliant what we are doing. Another final. We deserve it. The team has lifted itself up, with the help of the fans and the coach. It's been incredible. On the match, he spoke about the determination of his teammates: "The truth is that we were very intense, they managed to score the first goal but perseverance brings rewards. We played very well."  

Navas, having come off with cramp after an incredible effort, noted that "you have to be at the final, to help the team. It's incredible how the team and the fans have come together and got us to this point. We have to enjoy it." On the fans, he ended by saying: "They are fantastic, they deserve it all. We are there once again. I hope they enjoy it because it's going to be a brilliant final. I can always rely on their support and it makes me emotional every time."

The next to speak was Ivan Rakitic, who delivered once again in the Sevilla jersey, couldn't hide his emotion: "It's very easy to explain why this has happened, and the key to it is in the badge and the heart. If you saw the match and you didn't support Sevilla, you now like the club. Thank you to the fans once again for what they have done for us, and I think that, with all due respect, the better team won. We gave our all and football doesn't have an equivalent, it's just the atmosphere and the togetherness which fires you forwards. I think that it is more than deserved. It is often said that you give it your all for the fans and your family... Today your teammate was your family. We fought for one another. It was an incredible 120 minute performance, at a great pace and I hope everyone enjoys themselves. If we had a bigger stadium, we would have filled it out today. We will prepare for the final but know that on Sunday we have the derby and we play on Wednesday too. Tomorrow we will prepare for the match to show what colour this city is and show just how strong we are at home."

To close, Fernando Reges spoke: "There are many games, it's complicated. On Sunday we have another tough match and there is no time to rest. All of the players are exhausted, we ran as much as we could today. In the second half of extra time I was very cramped up. We have to fight and be together. We are going to end the season in a way that we did not expect."