Radomel Falcao fired a double and Diego added a late third as Atletico Madrid clinched the Europa League for the second time in three years after a 3-0 final victory over Athletic Bilbao in Bucharest on Wednesday.
The Colombian, who lifted the trophy with FC Porto two months ago, was the star of the show, with a first-half double. The opener came when he unleashed a sublime left-foot finish on seven minutes, before doubling his tally after a good turn in the box and close-range strike on 34 minutes.
Brazilian midfielder Diego, who lost the Uefa Cup final three years ago with Werder Bremen, added the third on 85 minutes, after Falcao had seen a deflected second-half strike hit the post.
“I am grateful for this moment that few players have the chance to experience, grateful to all the team, my colleagues, the coaching staff,” Falcao said on Spanish TV.
Atleti boss Diego Simeone lifted the Uefa Cup in 1998 as a player with Inter Milan but was delighted with victory as a coach.
“I’m happy for the players, the people, and because on Thursday the children can go to school with the Atletico shirt, and this is the most wonderful thing that can happen,” Simeone told Telecinco.
“I am very happy for Atletico Madrid. Very happy, very grateful to the players, my coaches, the physios, doctors. Were it not for them, the team could not respond in this way.
“We showed what Atletico are about – a fast team, strong defensively – and I’m very proud of this.”
Meanwhile, defeated Bilbao boss Marcelo Bielsa lamented a disappointing final performance and took the blame.
“I am disappointed, we did not play a good match,” Bielsa said. “I am in charge of the strategy of the squad who failed to achieve its objective, which makes the disappointment even greater.”
He added: “Atletico deserved their win, but the scale of it was excessive. The difference was exaggerated – it was not in proportion to what I saw.
“What happened on the pitch from my point of view is that they scored three goals and had eight chances; we had nine and scored none.”