Manchester United

109 minutes: Manchester United 2-4 Lyon (4-6 agg)...

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121 minutes: Manchester United 5-4 Lyon (7-6 agg)

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"Disbelief" but a "special night" at Old Trafford.

That's the views of former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen and ex-England goalkeeper Paul Robinson after Ruben Amorim's side staged an incredible extra-time comeback against Lyon in their Europa League quarter-final second leg.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Meulensteen said: "How many emotions do you have to go through?

"Manchester United were down and out. Credit where credit is due with Ruben Amorim.

"He puts Harry Maguire upfront, against the run of play Lyon go 4-2 up and with the penalty you think that's it.

"You could see Lyon crumbling, but credit to the way Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire took their goals. Amazing.

"Everybody walks away in disbelief. Ruben Amorim couldn't get into the dressing room quick enough."

Robinson added: "A special night at Old Trafford. I don't think I have ever seen a game like that.

"Ruben Amorim coolly making his way off. They looked dead and buried. I have not seen that character from them all season.

"Superlatives, you run out of them - wow, wow, wow for what we've just seen.

"These Manchester United fans have been starved of this for too long."

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Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, speaking to TNT Sports: "I was watching the 1999 [Treble] documentary to have some inspiration for these moments.

"It was a great night, the team were tired, 4-2 with one more player, we think it's over, but here it's never over.

"Here everything is possible, you feel the environment. At 4-3, after the Bruno Fernandes penalty, we felt we could change the game."

On his substitutions: "We tried to put Harry Maguire up front because he is the only one who can score a goal with a header. Kobbie Mainoo has a lack of pace in this moment because of injury, but he's really good in short spaces."

On Europa League focus: "One moment can change a lot of things in the players' minds, we have to be really focused on Europa League and take risks sometimes with kids in Premier League. Fans have to understand that, we have to focus on the Europa League."

On hopes of winning the competition: "Everybody in this moment believes it is possible, we need luck with injuries.

On what he thought when Maguire score: "The sounds of the stadium was the best ever. Some people collect shirts, scarves, but I want to keep that sound, it's the best sound in the world.

"I feel for the people who had to leave at 4-2 because of the traffic, they will be gutted.

"We know we are underperforming and deserve all the critics, but we have time to make something special of this season"

On United's performances in Europe: "We must recognise the context, we lack a lot of characteristics in our team, physicality is a problem.

"When we play against European teams we can cope better with that, in Premier League we suffer a lot."

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Manchester United match-winner Harry Maguire, speaking to TNT Sports: "Obviously it's an incredible game, we made really hard work of it.

"We had full control in the second half, had chances to score a third, then they scored out of nowhere. It put us on the back foot.

"To go down 4-2 in extra-time to 10 men is not good enough, we opened ourselves too much. But we dug in and showed great spirit, that's what this stadium does."

On his goal: "I felt like the fourth goal for them was a sucker punch but that we'd get chances to get back into it. It fell to myself and thankfully I scored, it was an amazing feeling."

On if he fouled the defender: "He was back-pedalling but I just held him there, with my hand, there was no where near enough for a foul."

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Harry Maguire's goal was the first 120th minute winning goal scored in Europa League history and the first in a major European tie since Atletico Madrid beat Liverpool at Anfield in March 2020.

This match was also the first game in major European football history to see five goals scored in extra-time.

Meanwhile, United have now won as many matches in the Europa League under Ruben Amorim (six wins in eight games) as they have in 21 Premier League matches under him (W6 D5 L10).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Man Utd's performance

Come back to this page on Friday to find a selection of your replies

Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham are all involved in a busy evening of European football on Thursday and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

All kick-off times 20:00 BST unless stated

Europa League:

• Athletic Bilbao v Rangers (agg 0-0)

• Frankfurt v Tottenham (agg 1-1)

• Lazio v Bodo/Glimt (agg 0-2)

• Man Utd v Lyon (agg 2-2) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Conference League:

• Fiorentina v Celje (17:45 BST - agg 2-1)

• Jagiellonia v Real Betis (17:45 BST - agg 0-2)

• Chelsea v Legia Warsaw (agg 3-0)

• Rapid Vienna v Djurgarden (agg 1-0)

Follow all of the action and reaction

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We asked for your views on if Manchester United and Ruben Amorim should prepare any differently to normal for tonight's game against Lyon. And if so, how?

Here are some of your comments:

Peter: Use a formation that they are familiar with. Drop the experiments for this season and try to stabilise for the rest of this season.

Mike: A Tifo and fireworks, how very Championship. I know that my response is sneery, but the fact is that the manager and players are responsible for improving the atmosphere at Old Trafford.

We create it, they respond with a passionate performance, we respond, it's a virtuous circle that every match going fan is familiar with. Unfortunately our manager and players have catastrophically broken the loop, so the club is reduced to these second rate, small time carnival tricks. Pathetic.

Graham: The players we have right now don't seem to care. Even Fernandes, he is there to pick the other players up as captain not sulk like a child. Amorim needs to do a big rebuild this summer and get rid of the deadwood, Rashford, Zirkzee, Hojlund and Sancho. Get them sold and get hungrier players and a new captain!

Ken: A tifo banner will be embarrassing for a club like Man Utd. It's an admission that as well as not being good enough on the field, they're not good enough off the field either.

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I can see the reasons behind Ruben Amorim taking Andre Onana out of the Manchester United team for the defeat at Newcastle, but I believe he should go back into the team for Thursday's Europa League quarter-final second leg against Lyon.

Removing Onana from the squad completely allowed him to have a break from the limelight and potentially reflect on recent performances - and ill-judged comments before the first leg in France.

It also took away the chance for the television cameras to pick him out whenever replacement Altay Bayindir was under any sort of pressure. This was the case when Mikel Arteta was phasing out Aaron Ramsdale in favour of David Raya at Arsenal but did not commit to one being first choice.

This is why it is important for managers to have a clear number one and why Onana should play against Lyon. He was bought in for big money from Inter Milan when a lot of big clubs were interested in him and that was for a reason - to be first choice.

Keeping Onana out any longer would kill his confidence and it is clear Bayindir is a second choice goalkeeper who is carrying his own nerves.

However, I think it is clear United need to recruit a new goalkeeper in the summer. Onana is not a bad goalkeeper by any means but his confidence and presence has been eroded over time and to come back from that at a club like Manchester United is very hard, with the levels of pressure and scrutiny.

There is no guarantee a new goalkeeper would not also fall victim to the state of the club, but there is a better chance of someone new succeeding under an Amorim rebuild than Onana, who carries the baggage of a difficult two seasons.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward

Dale O'Donnell
Fan writer

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Manchester United changing their pre-match routine should inspire a big performance from Ruben Amorim's team against Lyon in the Europa League quarter-final second leg.

A European night under the floodlights awaits at Old Trafford and the club will unveil a first-ever tifo banner in front of the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand in an attempt to enhance the famous atmosphere that should inspire the team.

There is no need to change team hotel, like Newcastle did in the Carabao Cup final, because United are used to bigger occasions than this, but that does not take away from the fact our 2024-25 campaign will end prematurely if we do not win later.

The United players should be aware that many of these fans have travelled across the country and Europe with them this season, and the results have been nowhere near good enough. It is time they took responsibility and gave something back to the Old Trafford faithful.

Along with the tifo being displayed before kick-off, red and white pyrotechnics will appear adjacent to the banner, in a larger display than seen against Real Sociedad in the last 16.

It promises to be a big night at Old Trafford.

Find more from Dale O'Donnell at United In Focus, external

What do you think? Should United and Ruben Amorim prepare any differently to normal for a game of this magnitude? And if so, how?

Let us know

RB Leipzig are expected to set an £86m asking price for 21-year-old Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko, who is attracting interest from Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. (Bild - in German), external

Ruben Amorim's side have identified RB Leipzig's 21-year-old Netherlands forward Xavi Simons as a summer target - but the club's transfer plans are likely to hinge on Champions League qualification. (Mail - subscription required), external

Sporting are open to summer offers for 23-year-old Portugal defender and United target Goncalo Inacio. (A Bola - in Portuguese), external

Marcus Rashford hopes his improved form on loan at Aston Villa will attract interest from top European teams, with United unlikely to welcome him back in the summer. (Talksport), external

The Red Devils have already started to draw up a shortlist of potential replacements for Rashford, with Villa uncertain whether to take up the option to sign the forward for £40m. (Sky Sports), external

Meanwhile, another season out on loan for Rashford is not being ruled out as an option. (Times - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca is bracing himself for Manchester United's "best performance of the season" at Old Trafford on Thursday.

United face the Ligue 1 side in the Europa League quarter-final second-leg knowing victory is essential if they are to qualify for next season's Champions League.

In what has been a desperate campaign domestically, United have already lost at home to Crystal Palace, Brighton, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest amongst others. In addition, they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Fulham on penalties at Old Trafford.

However, Fonseca is not reading too much into those results.

He knows United's season is hanging in the balance and is expecting a highly motivated opponent.

"I expect Manchester United's strongest performance of the season," he said.

"They are a big team and a big club. True, in the Premier League they are not what they were. It has been a bit different, but in the Europa League they have put in some good performances and have a lot of individual skills.

"I expect to be playing against the best United there is. It is a decisive moment for Manchester United. They will be super motivated for the match."

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We asked for your views on whether Ruben Amorim has made the right decision to bring Andre Onana straight back into the starting team for tomorrow's game against Lyon after the goalkeeper made mistakes for both goals last week and was dropped from the squad against Newcastle.

Here are some of your comments:

Stuart: He has little choice but to bring Onana back after 'resting' him, if he doesn't want to destroy him mentally. However for next season we need a better goalkeeper than Onana.

Dave: Onana needs to go. He is our worst keeper since Paddy Roche.

Lucy: If the Lyon game wasn't so important I would recommend Heaton start instead, so hopefully he'll get a run-out in the Premier League.

Craig: Onana is done. Same as Rashford and many others. Onana is meant to be better with his feet but poor positioning and weak handling are too many faults to have. Bayindir is not a number one. United should have bought Jordan Pickford.

Mark: Amorim will ride or die on the Onana decision tomorrow night. If he makes a goalkeeping error that leads to any way the team gets knocked out we all know it's all over Friday's papers. What will be will be, just score a goal first and hope the whole team defend as a unit.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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In fairness to Ruben Amorim, he didn't shirk it.

The Manchester United head coach could have opted not to answer and leave everyone guessing - or scurrying to find out through other means - until his team for Thursday's game against Lyon is announced 75 minutes before kick-off.

But he was straight to the point - and Andre Onana starts.

Amorim pointed out that it is not because he likes the Cameroon international - although he does - nor because he feels the goalkeeper's confidence needs a boost.

It is because he feels Onana is the best man for the job.

He skirted round questions over whether he will need a new goalkeeper this summer. But, in the here and now, he trusts Onana to deliver a performance that will help United progress to the Europa League semi-finals.

"When I imagine the game, I see Andre Onana," said Amorim.

He can only hope his faith is justified.

Read more on Onana's future here

And the goalkeeper is discussed on the latest episode of BBC Radio Manchester's The Devils' Advocate podcast - listen on BBC Sounds here

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League quarter-final second leg against Lyon at Old Trafford (20:00 BST).

The score is level at 2-2 on aggregate from the first leg in France. Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Amorim confirmed forward Joshua Zirkzee will be out of the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, while defender Ayden Heaven will miss the game with a "small issue". Jonny Evans has returned to training but is not available for Thursday and Mathijs de Light is expected to return before the end of the campaign.

• He added that Amad Diallo is not expected to return before the end of April but hopes to have the winger available again this season.

• On the Zirkzee news: "It's tough. He's improving in all aspects of the game so it's hard to stop. He has to be ready now to recover."

• Amorim confirmed goalkeeper Andre Onana will start after being left out of the squad for Sunday's defeat at Newcastle.

• On the club's goalkeeper situation: "I try to do things that can help a player in this situation. We speak about managing players physically, but we also have to manage them mentally. We had one weekend where I felt it was better for Andre Onana not to play and a good thing for Altay [Bayindir] to play."

• Amorim was pushed to answer whether United will buy a new goalkeeper: "We need to improve every position on the field. Goalkeeper is the same and we can work with Andre. He has already proved he is a top player at Inter."

• He used his own record to defend Onana: "We are going to make that evaluation for any position. And if we're talking about mistakes, you can see my record. My record is the worst one in our team. I'm also underperforming and I think I'm the right guy to coach the team, so I think the same for Andre."

• He was asked about the importance of qualifying for the Champions League: "I think it is more about the budget. Champions League can change everything. But, you can see it both ways. In the Champions League, it is tough to play against top teams on Wednesday and then at the weekend in the Premier League. If we don't have Champions League, we have more time to build the team."

Is it the right decision to bring Onana straight back against Lyon? Send us your thoughts here

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Forward Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt and fellow defender Ayden Heaven were all missing from the open section of Manchester United training before Thursday's crucial Europa League quarter-final second leg against Lyon at Old Trafford.

As reported by BBC Sport senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel on Tuesday, Zirkzee could miss the remainder of the season with the hamstring injury he suffered at Newcastle on Sunday.

Heaven has suffered a minor setback in his recovery from the ankle injury he picked up at Leicester last month.

Veteran central defender Jonny Evans was part of the group. Evans has been out since December because of injury.

Meanwhile, Amad Diallo was training on his own as he recovers from his ankle injury.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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With budgets not what they were at Manchester United, it is likely Ruben Amorim's first summer transfer window as Old Trafford boss will see him required to cope with some spending restrictions.

‌A new centre-forward is viewed as the club's preferred area to strengthen. Ipswich striker Liam Delap, who is also a target for Chelsea, is on their radar - though any move for the 22-year-old would be dependent on the Suffolk club being relegated owing to a £30m release clause should Kieran McKenna's side suffer an instant return to the Championship.

‌Viktor Gyokeres - who worked with Amorim at Sporting Lisbon - and Victor Osimhen have also been linked but it is understood the total cost of each deal would present tough obstacles to overcome.

‌A new centre-back is also viewed as a priority for United. Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen - who has a £50m release clause - has been linked but Europe's elite want to sign the youngster.

‌The club would also like to add a versatile attacker to their ranks and Wolves forward Matheus Cunha, who has a £62m release clause, is among the options though finances will dictate whether they can sign players in addition to a striker and centre back.

‌It is likely United will look to offset their summer spending with a number of sales. The futures of Casemiro, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund are all uncertain, though qualifying for the Champions League through winning the Europa League would ease financial pressure.

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