Between Chelsea and the Conference League trophy are real betis wing player Antony, and that means considerably more than five months ago.
The Brazilian wing player, 25, escaped his Manchester United Nightmare in January when he came to the La Liga side and was looking for a career that had jam -sticky at Old Trafford.
Antony became the second most expensive player of the Red Devils ever when he joined Ajax in 2022 for £ 81.3 million ($ 110 million), but flopped poorly among his former coach Erik ten Hag.
The pressure at United became too much for the winger, whose best shape was out of reach.
“Only I know what it was like to be there, not to have the power to even play with my son, days without eating, stay locked up in my room,” Antony told TNT Sports Brazil for the final.
“I told (my brother) that I couldn't take it anymore.”
Antony has explained that he originated from a Brazilian favela, plays without boots and against drug dealers, develops a hard scale, so it is particularly striking to suffer so much in Manchester.
When the exciting younger Amad Diallo appeared, the successor to Ten Hag Ruben Amorim was happy for the attacker to leave, with the betis of Manuel Pellegrini happy to take the gamble and try to kickstarten that was on flags.
The fit could not have been better for both players and club, because they helped each other to return to their best.
With three goals and an assist in his first four games in all competitions, Antony quickly smiled in the Andalusian sun before he claimed fans.
“It's very easy to play with him, he has incredible talent, he makes good decisions,” Isco said about his teammate in February.
“I hope we can bring that step forward to get to Europe.”
With the Spanish playmaker, called for the first time in six years in the Spain's Nations League team and clicked with the Brazilian, Betis did exactly that.
They booked a place in next season's Europa League and may have become a better one if they don't fight two fronts.
Although the Conference League does not mean much for two-time Champions League winners Chelsea, it would be an important achievement for Betis.
Although they are only one of the nine clubs that La Liga won, they have never brought a European trophy home.
Betis removed the Copa del Rey in 2022, but has won nothing else in the last two decades.
Even the motto of the club reflects their lack of success – 'Long Live Betis, even when they lose' – falsify with the club in the third layer in the 1950s.
“I had offers, but when Betis appeared, I felt a certainty in my heart,” Antony explained, with Pellegrini helping to fill his exhausted morality.
“He gave me so much confidence.”
'I cried a lot'
The experienced coach also helped Antony to work on his end product, while he was often mocked in England because of his preference for tricks.
In exchange, Antony brought goals, assists and a touch of elite quality on which clubs such as Betis usually have no access.
“It is not only a coincidence that Manchester United (so much) paid for him,” said Pellegrini.
Antony hit the 4-3 semi-final victory over Fiorentina to bring Betis to the Wroclaw final and has nine goals and five assists in 25 performances for the club.
“We went through very difficult times to enjoy this moment today,” said the attacker, and explained his tears after the triumph over La Viola.
While Manchester United Schiep in the Europa League final and the Champions League of next season failed, the Revival of Antony could see him a European champion and could earn a big summer movement.
Of course Betis would love to keep him with the Benito Villamarin, although the price would be a problem – but Isco has brainstormed and even suggests “kidnapping” to keep the attacker.
“We have to go crowd-funds so that he can stay for at least another year,” the midfielder still joked, after Antony sheen against city rivals Sevilla, one of the many excellent versions in a green-white shirt.
Real Betis fans seriously hope that Antony has at least another one to come.