Former Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin has Manchester United in his mind ahead of Villarreal’s Champions League semi-final clash against Liverpool.
The 30-year-old spent a decade at the north London club before moving to Valencia in 2018.
He made his first team debut for Arsenal in their 8-2 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford in August 2011.
Describing the game in his autobiography, former Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson was especially kind to the Frenchman.
“Arsenal played a young boy in midfield; Francis Coquelin. He was completely out of his depth. I had hardly heard of him, and he barely played again,” Ferguson wrote.
After spending two seasons with Los Ches, the Frenchman joined the Yellow Submarine in 2020. In his debut season at Villarreal, the midfielder won the Europa League by beating Manchester United on penalties in the final.
Coquelin believes lifting the second-tier European trophy, with Ferguson in attendance, was his way getting back at the Manchester United legend.
“A feat , but also a little revenge,” the Villarreal player told RMC Sport.
“When I made my Arsenal debut, we lost 8-2 at Old Trafford. At the time, I took a dig from Sir Alex Fergusson in his biography. So, it was a nice little kickback to win the Europa League against them.
“Besides, I think he was in the stands. Lifting the trophy in front of him was nice. I looked for him, I didn’t find him. But he must have seen me.”
