Ruben Amorim experienced a whirlwind of emotions as Manchester United edged past Lyon in a dramatic 5-4 extra-time thriller at Old Trafford, sealing a 7-6 aggregate victory and a spot in the Europa League semi-finals. The Portuguese manager is now fully focused on chasing European glory—even if it means taking risks in the Premier League that could backfire.
Amorim admitted he will likely have to rest key players for Sunday’s league clash against Wolves, as United look to prioritise their only realistic shot at silverware—and a route into next season’s European competitions.
“The sound of those last two goals was amazing—that’s something we can hold onto,” Amorim said after United’s heart-stopping comeback. “You make the semi-finals, but now you have to win it. If you don’t, it’s the same feeling as going out earlier.”
The quarter-final second leg seemed lost after Lyon responded to early goals from Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot by scoring four unanswered, despite being reduced to ten men. But a late United rally rescued the tie and gave Old Trafford one of its most dramatic European nights in recent memory.
Amorim acknowledged the emotional toll of a season filled with struggles—United currently sit 14th in the Premier League—and stressed that the Europa League is now the club’s main focus.
“These moments can be powerful for the players and the fans,” he said. “They help us forget, even just for a while, what kind of season we’re having. But tomorrow we start again. We have to check who’s fit for Wolves and take the risk of resting players, because it’s clear what matters most now—it’s the Europa League.”
Lyon boss Paulo Fonseca, meanwhile, praised his team’s resilience and attacking effort but admitted they may have celebrated too soon after Alexandre Lacazette made it 4-2 from the penalty spot.
“I have mixed emotions,” Fonseca said. “We showed incredible quality, especially being a man down and scoring four goals. But maybe we lost focus—we celebrated a bit too much after the fourth, and in football, it’s never over until the last whistle.”
