Manchester United looked all but eliminated from the Europa League when, with seven minutes to play, they were 4-2 down in the 113th minute. Those who wrote them off have never seen Manchester United play. With Sir Alex Ferguson in the stands, there was almost an inevitability about the outcome in an otherwise bleak season.
This is not the Manchester United of old – no free-flowing counterattacking offense, no solid goalkeeping, no depth of quality at every position, and certainly not the mindset of all the Ferguson teams. Every once in a while, though, this group of players remembers they play for Manchester United.
United went up 2-0 early courtesy of goals from Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot, and looked to be cruising to the semifinal. However, after 70 minutes, Lyon scored 2 goals in quick succession thanks to Corentin Tolisso and Nicolas Tagliafico. In the 89th minute, right before extra time, Tolisso received his second yellow, getting shown a red. With Lyon having only 10 men going into extra time, it seemed all but a done deal.
Miraculously, the advantaged Manchester United gave up 2 goals right away in extra time, courtesy of a great finish from Rayan Cherki and a penalty delivered by Alexandre Lacazette. Old Trafford was deflated. How, in the only game that matters left in the season, with a man advantage, does a team give up two goals in extra time?
Before people even had time to collect their thoughts, the fans found Bruno Fernandes at the penalty spot, as they usually do, who cut the lead to 4-3, and the comeback was on. Kobbe Mainoo, who got subbed on for only his second appearance in the last few months due to injury, provided the spark that sent Old Trafford into a frenzy. A curler from inside the box that beat the goalie, in only a way Mainoo can. What happened next is what keeps Manchester United being the biggest club in the world – argue with a wall, Madrid fans.
Casemiro turned back the clock and delivered a peach of a ball to the head of Harry Maguire (yes, he was playing as a striker, that’s how desperate it got), who slotted it home. That wrapped up the best Manchester United comeback since that fateful night in 1999 against Bayern Munich.
Athletic Club now stands in Manchester United’s way in the semifinal. While both Lyon and Athletic Club are 4th in their respective leagues, Athletic Club figures to be the harder matchup, with a better scoring output from the likes of the Williams Brothers, Nico and Inaki. They are not to be overlooked before the final, but the fact that this is a two-leg semifinal helps United. No one wants to come to Old Trafford now, especially after what just happened.
Mainoo looks to play a bigger role in the semifinal, he will be able to gain two weeks of additional rest as he recovers from an injury that sidelined him for months. Alongside Fernandes, that makes for a formidable midfield that can really control a football game. Maguire has shown time and time again that he is a man for the big matches, so expect him to get a start in the semifinal as well.
Ruben Amorim, manager of Manchester United, has already announced that they will be playing a significant number of youngsters for the rest of their Premier League season. Their fate in that competition is already decided, currently sitting 13th, so this makes sense, and will allow players to be extra fresh for the Europa League Semifinals.
The Red Devils reminded everyone last night why being a Manchester United fan is so great. The emotional rollercoaster, ups and downs – albeit more downs than ups as of recent. With the news of a new stadium in the works, set to be completed by 2030, it is almost like Old Trafford gained even more aura (if that is possible). They call it The Theatre of Dreams for a reason. If these players can find it in themselves to dare to dream, then the fans will dream too, and after an abysmal season on all other fronts, winning the Europa League would be a dream end for Manchester United.
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