Not even the coronavirus could stop Sevilla’s love affair with the Europa League.

Never mind that the final was three months late and without fans, the Spanish club secured a record sixth title in the competition on Friday, beating Inter Milan 3-2 in Cologne.

It’s a competition made to measure for Sevilla. The club’s big enough to have qualified for Europe for the last seven seasons. However, it hasn’t come close in that time to breaking Real Madrid and Barcelona’s hold on La Liga, let alone challenging for the Champions League.

Defeating Inter made it six titles from six finals for Sevilla, who have won every time they’ve reached the last eight.

“It’s incredible. We had such tough games, I think, the whole tournament but we played so well as a team, and you could see it during the tournament. We were really a team, like a family,” Sevilla forward Luuk de Jong said after scoring with two headers.

“I’m very pleased as coach,” Sevilla’s Julen Lopetegui said through a translator.

For Lopetegui, it was sweet redemption. A highly-rated coach in Spain’s youth set-up, Lopetegui’s previous stints at the top level had either ended in failures or abrupt departures. But on Friday he shed tears of joy in Cologne after winning his first major trophy.

“Lopetegui works 24 hours a day, he has given everything for us and he has got the best out of us. He deserves everything,” said Jesus Navas.