Welcome to the Europa League final!
Monday, May 29, 2023
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UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin hails the start of a busy period in UEFA competitions, previewing the Europa League final alongside Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ) president, Sándor Csányi.
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Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA President:
Welcome to Budapest for the UEFA Europa League final! This game will symbolically begin the sequence of this year’s most anticipated matches, with all the European club competition finals set to unfold one after another in a dramatic finale to the 2022/23 season.
The UEFA Europa League is growing in quality and appeal, and its success proves that UEFA’s club competitions are moving in the right direction. The two teams that performed best in the knockout stage are now ready to enter one final contest for the legendary trophy, and everyone who saw them play knows we are in for another European classic.
The Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ) has established itself as a fantastic event organiser over the years, with UEFA EURO 2020, the 2020 UEFA Super Cup, the 2019 UEFA Women’s Champions League final and the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final tournament in its portfolio.
It is our great pleasure to be back here, and I want to pass my gratitude to the MLSZ and its president Sándor Csányi for their warm hospitality and outstanding work ahead of another match to remember. But enough talking. Let’s enjoy some football. May the best team win!
Sándor Csányi, MLSZ President:
One of the cornerstones of the strategy of the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ) is that our country should host as many prestigious European football fixtures as possible.
Since the Puskás Aréna, which can accommodate more than 60,000 fans, was opened in 2019, we have had at our disposal a world-class facility which satisfies every need. The national stadium has successfully hosted men’s UEFA Champions League ties, memorable UEFA European Championship matches and, this season, a Ferencváros game in the UEFA Europa League as well.
We are very proud that every team to have played here has spoken highly of the stadium and its playing surface, which tonight will stage the final of UEFA’s second-most prestigious club competition.
I trust that this UEFA Europa League final in Budapest will be memorable for both the teams and supporters. The fans of the two participating clubs – supplemented by local Hungarian spectators and those from other countries – will surely create a fantastic atmosphere, and the highlight of the event will undoubtedly be when the winners lift the trophy, a fitting reward for achieving victory in this competition formerly known as the UEFA Cup.
As we reach the end of this long UEFA Europa League season, which featured a Hungarian club until March, we are now familiar with the playing style of the two sides through to the final. With this in mind, there can be no question that a high-quality match lies in store.
On behalf of the MLSZ, I wish everyone an unforgettable experience and great enjoyment supporting the teams as they contest the 2023 UEFA Europa League final in Budapest!