Lyon manager reveals the mistake that allowed Man Utd to complete comeback
The comeback to end all comebacks.
Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca conceded his team lacked ’emotional balance’ after the capitulated during the closing stages of an epic Europa League quarter final against Manchester United.
The Ligue 1 side looked to be heading for a tame exit after early goals from Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot fired Ruben Amorim’s team into a 4-2 aggregate lead.
Lyon responded superbly, however, and levelled the match and the tie via second half strikes from Corentin Tolisso and Nicolas Tagliafico.
United were handed a significant advantage before the game went into extra time after the experienced Tolisso was given his marching orders following a second yellow card.
Lyon, however, made light of their numerical disadvantage and appeared destined for the semi finals when Ryan Cherki scored in the 105th minute.
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And United looked dead and buried with six minutes left of the clock after former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette stroked home a penalty in front of the Stretford End.
Amorim’s men, however, launched a stunning act of escapology with quickfire goals from Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire lifting the roof off Old Trafford.
The vital mistake Lyon made vs Man Utd
‘It is a mix of emotions in my head,’ conceded a bewilderedFonseca after the game.
‘Until now, it is difficult to understand what happened,” began Fonseca. “I think, first of all, we did magnificent things.
‘We led 4-2 with one player less on the pitch but we celebrated the 4-2 too much when the match was not finished.
‘I think that we lacked emotional balance at this moment. It is the only negative that I can identify.
‘We celebrated the 4-2 when there was still time to play. We should have thought about continuing to manage the match.
‘We lacked experience at this moment […] I am sad because I thought we deserved more.’
Ruben Amorim hails Man Utd’s epic comeback
Amorim, meanwhile, now has a chance to salvage something from a season of strife and admits he is ready to put all of United’s eggs in the Europa League basket.
‘The sound of the two last goals were amazing and that is something we can keep for the future,’ the United boss said after an unforgettable 7-6 aggregate triumph.
‘In the end you go to the semi-finals but you need to win it. If you go the semi-finals and don’t win it, it’s the same feeling. We just need to focus on the next stage and try to win the competition.
‘I think that (ending is) why we like this sport so much and all the frustration that the coach has in this kind of season, the frustration, the bad moments, when you had a moment like this it’s all worth it.
‘But then you finish, you calm down and then you start thinking we have a game on Sunday (against Wolves). Then we have to see all the players if they are fit to play because we have to focus on the Europa League.”
The competition offers United’s only route to silverware and European qualification given the side sit a lowly 14th in a campaign that is guaranteed to be their worst of the Premier League era.
Asked how big this moment can be, Amorim said: ‘I think these kind of moments can help a lot players in this kind of season, in this kind of context.
‘They can create some connection between the fans and the players, and we can forget for a few minutes what kind of season we are having.
‘Today is a good feeling but tomorrow we need to start everything again. So we need to focus on the next game, to focus on the players, if they are fit to play.
‘We have to take the risk in to save some players because if you look at the our season, the most important thing is clear for everybody. It’s the Europa League.’
