Sevilla remaining calm ahead of potentially historic Europa League final

Sevilla winger Aleix Vidal says his side is calm ahead of their potentially historical Europa League final in Warsaw.

The Spanish club is set to face Ukrainian side Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk on Wednesday and are attempting to become the first team to win the UEFA Cup/Europa League title for the fourth time. Sevilla are currently tied with Inter Milan, Juventus and Liverpool with three victories in the competition.

Last season, following a 0-0 draw after extra-time, Sevilla took home the Europa League title by defeating Portuguese giants Benfica 4-2 on penalties in Turin. It was the club’s third title in eight years, after winning the competition in 2006 and 2007.

Many experts have tapped the La Liga side as favorites to win tomorrow’s final in Warsaw. Speaking ahead of the contest, Sevilla winger Aleix Vidal said he was taking nothing for granted heading into the Europa League final.

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“People can think what they want,” Vidal told UEFA.com. “Based on our name, people might say we are favorites, but if you think that a name guarantees you victory then you are wrong – because in a final the so-called better teams can lose.

“A final is unlike any other game. You can’t really know what it will feel like until you experience it.”

Should Sevilla once again lift the Europa League trophy on Wednesday, they would become the fifth La Liga club awarded Champions League qualification for next season.

With Sevilla finishing the season in fifth place in La Liga, Vidal admitted there was some additional incentive to beat Dnipro on Wednesday.

“Getting to play in Europe’s top competition is a big deal,” the winger added. “Everyone dreams of playing in it and I think we’ve got what it takes to do so.

“We’re keeping calm – we’re going to go about things the way we always have and the final will be won by whoever deserves it. Hopefully that will be us.”

Programming note: Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk vs. Sevilla will be shown on Wednesday starting at 2:30pm EST on FOX Sports 1 and FoxSoccer2Go. Plus, listen to English-language audio with Spanish soccer expert Mike Barnes at Rabble.tv.