Emery: Sevilla thrive in Europa League

The Spanish side still have a chance of replicating their back-to-back Uefa Cup victories in 2005-06 and 2006-07, which delights their head coach

Sevilla coach Unai Emery has lauded his team for continuing to thrive in the Europa League after they knocked out Villarreal on Thursday.

The reigning champions held the upper hand heading into the last-16 second leg on home turf having won the opening fixture 3-1 at El Madrigal, and Vicente Iborra made any comeback from Marcelino's men all the more unlikely by scoring in the 69th minute.

Giovani dos Santos triggered the possibility of a shock fightback with an equaliser on the night shortly afterwards, but Denis Suarez finished off the tie with seven minutes remaining to ensure their place in Friday's quarter-final draw.

Emery, who guided Sevilla to unlikely Europa League glory last year, is delighted his team are continuing their dream of replicating their back-to-back Uefa Cup triumphs in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

"We wanted to push the match in a way that we would become stronger as it wound onwards," he told Gol TV. "We lacked a bit of control - and the late absence of Ever Banega hurt us - but we stayed focused and waited for our chances to come.

"We hope to continue growing within Sevilla, continuing our evolution. The players are eager to grow as footballers and take the next step. These are the sort of games that we go into with great enthusiasm.

"We thrive in it and we're very happy right now. We don't care who we draw in the last eight in particular, we'll prepare for whoever we get and let the hype lift us."

Villarreal have an immediate opportunity to get revenge on their continental vanquishers as they host Sevilla on Sunday in La Liga.