In their Europa League quarterfinal second leg match at Old Trafford on Thursday night, Manchester United pulled off an amazing comeback against Lyon. After falling behind 4-2 on the evening and 6-4 overall, the Red Devils appeared hopeless in the second half of extra time against the French team.
The Red Devils, however, were unstoppable and secured an unlikely triumph by scoring three goals in seven minutes. After Bruno Fernandes’ penalty cut the deficit, Kobbie Mainoo scored an incredibly well-executed goal to even the score.
United finished the comeback in stoppage time of extra time because they weren’t satisfied with penalties. Harry Maguire went home to send the home support into raptures after Casemiro sent in a cross.
What Ruben Amorim Said During Extra Time’s Halftime
The comeback was spurred by the Portuguese manager’s remarks.
After the game, Amorim addressed the media, sharing his words that motivated his team to win. According to Manchester Evening News, he stated:
“We tried to be very clear about Harry Maguire’s position during halftime and extra time. We tried to move Casemiro closer to the goal, Kobbie Mainoo closer to the goal, Mason Mount to cross balls, and we tried to explain that we need to score one goal and that anything can change.”
“So, it’s an effort to support the team. However, it’s a challenging time, and changing the game requires extreme luck, which I believe was the case today.
You try to push the players and force yourself to give them energy, even if you think it will be difficult to return. You always get the impression that anything can happen in this stadium and club, and today was just another one.”
“The sound of the last two goals was fantastic, and we can keep that for the future,” he continued. It was a pleasant sensation, but you have to win the game to go to the semi-finals. All we have to do is strive to win the competition and concentrate on the next phase.
“I believe that’s the reason we enjoy this sport so much. Even when the coach gets frustrated during this type of season, it’s all worth it when you have moments like these. After you’re done, you relax, and we have a game on Sunday. We need to see if all of the players are well enough to play because we need to concentrate a lot on the Europa League.
“I believe that in this type of season and situation, these kinds of moments can greatly benefit the players. We can temporarily forget what kind of season we are in by establishing some sort of relationship with the players and supporters.
“But once more, while today feels terrific, tomorrow is a fresh start. Therefore, we must concentrate on the upcoming game and the players; if they are healthy enough to participate, we must take a chance and rescue a few.”
In the competition’s semifinals, United will play Athletic Club. They will play either Bodo/Glimt or Tottenham Hotspur in the final, which is scheduled for May 21 at Estadio de San Mamés, if they defeat the Spanish team.
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