After being crowned the Man of the Match in the Europa League final, Villarreal midfielder Francis Coquelin cherished his side’s maiden major trophy on Wednesday and said “it feels really good”.

Playing their first-ever major European final, Unai Emery’s men clinched a memorable triumph 11-10 on penalties over Manchester United in Gdansk.

“It feels really good. It’s been a very tough competition,” Frenchman Coquelin told BT Sport. “What an end.”

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The match finished 1-1 after extra time, with Man United striker Edinson Cavani having cancelled out Gerard Moreno’s 29th-minute opener.

Villarreal finished seventh in La Liga, but the win over United sees them jump from next season’s inaugural Europa Conference League into the Champions League group stage.

“We didn’t manage to get to the Champions League through the league SO to get through with our first title is amazing,” added former Arsenal midfielder Coquelin.

“Obviously to beat them in the final was something special.

“We will try to celebrate (despite COVID) because it’s something special for the club.”

Villarreal’s only previous silverware had been the Spanish third division in 1970 and two Intertoto Cups in 2003 and 2004.

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Meanwhile, left-back Alfonso Pedraza, in an interview with RMC Sport, said, “We had a great match against one of the best teams in the world.”

“We suffered, we did not have many chances, and then it was the lottery of penalties. A title for the supporters who are here, who helped us, we obviously dedicate it to all our supporters. It’s been a huge job this season.

“We knew that we would enter the Champions League if we won, it’s a double boost! It’s a reward for this whole group, the supporters… anything is possible.”