Ruben Amorim felt Manchester United made positive in-game adaptations in Lyon and eventually assumed control during our 2-2 draw with the Ligue 1 outfit.

It looked as though Joshua Zirkzee’s 88th-minute header had given the Reds a slender advantage to take back to M16, after Leny Yoro had levelled at the end of the first half, following Thiago Almada’s opener.

But Rayan Cherki popped up in the final minute of stoppage time to equalise for Les Gones, a goal that left Amorim and his side dispirited after an encouraging display.

The boss added that United initially struggled to engage the French side at the Groupama Stadium and, although we eventually worked our way back into the match, admitted there is room for improvement ahead of the Old Trafford return.

It’s a game the Reds will have to approach differently, as Ruben specified during his interviews with the media after the final whistle…

Ruben: We’re already thinking ahead Video

Ruben Amorim says his players are already looking to a big week ahead and not dwelling on the late goal Lyon scored…

ALL TO PLAY FOR

“Of course we are really disappointed. We should have taken the one-goal advantage to the next game, but we have the next game in our home and we try to win that game.”

NO BLAME FOR LYON GOALS

“It’s important to focus on the next game. The next game is the league, then we think about the second leg against Lyon. When one player has a mistake, every player has a mistake, so we continue like that.”

WE IMPROVED DURING THE GAME

“I think we did well. In the first half, we had some difficulties, especially in the beginning, to press the opponent, because they play in a different way. But then especially in the second half we adapted to control the game. We were near the box of Lyon, so I think we did well. We can do better.”

ADAPTING TO LYON

“We tried to explain to the players the way Lyon were playing. We worked on a different thing [pre-match], and we changed in the middle of the first half. The second half we adapted more to what they want to do in the game.”

CONVERTING CHANCES INTO GOALS

“We are improving game by game but we need to be more clinical. Again, it’s two games: it’s half-time and we need to think on the next one. Put the ball in the net, that’s all. We are improving so let’s continue to think like that. We have a Premier League game on Sunday against a top team and then we have time to think about the second leg.”

COOL HEADS FOR THE SECOND LEG

“It’s going to be a tough game. We know Lyon want to make connections near their box and then use the space. We have to study the game and then try to be better in the second leg. We are going to look at the game, but it’s a different game. We have to be prepared but it’s in our stadium. Our fans want us to press all the time and this is a team that is really smart, that try to push us, to use the space behind. We have to be really smart, not just playing with the heart but playing with our head. In the second leg we are going to do that.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF WINNING THIS COMPETITION

“It’s not just the coach, it’s everybody that’s here: the staff, the players. Everybody has to understand that it’s a massive club, with a big responsibility. We want to play Champions League, we’d love to play Champions League next year but we have a lot to do with our club. We are in our path, trying to do things right. So it’s step-by-step, let’s think about Newcastle then we’ll be okay to face the next game.”

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Opinion: United picture brightening, despite late equaliser

Manchester United’s fifth draw in the last eight games will feel like a defeat, after Rayan Cherki’s agonisingly late equaliser for Lyon.

But when the dawn rises on Friday morning, a 2-2 result away from home will feel like a manageable outcome ahead of next week’s return leg at Old Trafford.

By withstanding the loud racket made by Lyon’s Bad Gones ultras on the Kop Virage Nord for so much of the game – between Lyon’s two goals – Ruben Amorim surely has more evidence that his team has the capability to make it all the way to Bilbao.

The Reds had chances to score even more and looked composed on the ball for long stretches, and there were numerous bright spots all over the pitch – and from the substitute’s bench – if you can overlook the frustration of that late leveller.

Lyon are arguably the best side United have faced in the Europa League this season, as our head coach suggested they would be in his pre-match press conference, and the Groupama Stadium is also the biggest away ground we’ve negotiated in Europe during 2024/25.

When Onana spilled a free-kick in the 25th minute, onlookers might have suspected the pressure of this quarter-final first leg was getting to United but, instead, the Reds found a way back, earning a solid result to take back to Old Trafford.

The boss said beforehand that our success or failure in the Europa League was connected to everything going on at the club right now, in terms of future planning, and this result is significant in that context.

But it must also please the boss that the team’s playing style is becoming more stable; that results are becoming more consistent, even if there are too many of those irritating draws at the moment

France’s premier sports paper, L’Equipe, ran a piece on Bruno Fernandes’ captaincy on matchday, reporting that a team dinner organised by the captain on 19 February might just have been the turning point in our season, because we’ve lost just once since that date. (They’re not counting the FA Cup exit to Fulham as a ‘defeat’, due to the penalty shootout finale.)

The setback at Nottingham Forest is the only true reverse in that time, and the number of goals conceded is also generally dropping.

There’s also growing evidence that the tougher tests draw the best out of Amorim’s side: in games against Manchester City (twice), Liverpool and Arsenal, United have shown that our top level is capable of regularly competing against the best.

Here at Lyon, there was more evidence too that the players are getting to grips with the 3-5-2 system that has drawn so much attention from the media and fans.

We had Leny Yoro striding forwards from defence with the ball, even coming within yards of scoring his second goal of a game that had already contained his maiden Reds strike.

And though Rasmus Hojlund did not make the most of his few goalscoring openings, he showed a clear understanding of what the manager wants from him: runs in behind, and occasionally showing a little deeper to offer the full-backs an out-ball from the wider areas.

It didn’t always lead to chances, but you can sense the fluidity improving. Recent games against Nottingham Forest and Manchester City suggested similarly, in passages.

In midfield, Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte are providing a nice foil to Bruno Fernandes’s rampant creativity, and there was a further boost when Kobbie Mainoo returned with 10 minutes left, for his first minutes since early February.

Joshua Zirkzee’s late goal – which seemed certain to be the winner – was the latest bit of momentum in the enigmatic forward’s strong second half to the campaign.

Out wide, Patrick Dorgu and Diogo Dalot did not have the finest nights, but Dorgu placed a lovely cross on to Alejandro Garnacho’s left foot in the second period, which could easily have translated into our second, and a Dalot burst in the first half led to a deflected Fernandes strike which was our best attacking moment prior to Yoro’s savvy header.

These are but fragments, but with players returning from lay-offs and competition for places increasing, the picture is gradually brightening for United fans. But the players’ determination to stick to Amorim’s plan is surely what will please the boss most.

The job is far from done against the French club, with the scoreline tied at 2-2 – as it was at this stage of the last round, against Real Sociedad – but the Portuguese’s team continue to suggest promise, which is perhaps the most important thing of all, whether United end this season with silverware or without.

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Rayan Cherki scored with virtually the last kick of the game to prevent Manchester United leaving Lyon with a lead after the first leg of our Europa League quarter-final.

Joshua Zirkzee’s 88th-minute header had seemingly completed a spirited Reds comeback, in loud and hostile surroundings at the Groupama Stadium.

But Cherki dinked over Andre Onana to level with just seconds to play, adding a sour note to what had looked like a sweet sojourn to France.

Leny Yoro had earlier netted his first Reds goal, cancelling out Thiago Almada’s free-kick on the stroke of half-time and becoming the youngest defender to make it on the scoresheet for the club in Europe.

FIRST HALF – SET-PIECES KEY

Amorim selected the same 11 players who started Sunday’s Manchester derby – the first time he’d gone with an unchanged line-up since becoming United head coach in November.

Bruno Fernandes has been a near-constant presence in Ruben’s XI and the skipper provided the first moment of note when his wide free-kick had to be hooked behind by opposite number Corentin Tolisso.

The atmosphere at the Groupama Stadium was intense but the visitors were managing the contest well, as Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu dispossessed a defender to tee up Rasmus Hojlund, who couldn’t get a clean contact, scooping his effort well clear of Lucas Perri’s post.

On the opposite flank, Alejandro Garnacho got in behind and found the onrushing Fernandes with his cross, but Moussa Niakhite managed a key touch to deflect our no.8’s seemingly goalbound shot out for a corner.

It had been a bright start by the Reds, which made Lyon’s opener all the more galling.

Almada’s free-kick evaded every white shirt it was intended for, bouncing in front of Onana, who will feel aggrieved that he could not turn the ball clear.

With at least two-and-a-half hours of the tie left to play, there was no need to panic – although it was clear the next goal would be so important.

United had Noussair Mazraoui to thank for quelling a dangerous break as Lyon threatened their second and, within 90 seconds, we were level.

A Fernandes free-kick – from a similar position to Almada’s – was punched only half clear by Perri and, when Manuel Ugarte diverted it back towards goal, Yoro cleverly nodded past the Brazilian to open his Reds account.

SECOND HALF – LATE DRAMA!

Lyon sought to boost their goal threat early on in the second period, as former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette was introduced from the bench.

Lacazette has scored 196 goals across two spells with Les Gones and really should have increased his tally when meeting Georges Mikautadze’s flick on the volley – instead his shot flew harmlessly wide.

Tolisso’s radar was better calibrated but, after he’d swerved the attentions of Mazraoui with a delicious dummy on the edge of the box, the 2018 World Cup winner could only pick out the welcoming arms of Onana.

Paulo Fonseca’s switch to two attackers had doubtless made the hosts more incisive, although they did leave themselves more open to the counter, as evidenced when Mazraoui snuffed out a Mikautadze opening.

The ball broke clear to Garnacho but the Argentina international – supported by Fernandes and Zirkzee – couldn’t find the telling pass when sprinting in the final third, as the clock ticked into its final 20 minutes.

United progressed past Real Sociedad in the previous round after battling to a 1-1 draw away from home in the first leg, and it seemed for large parts here that we were happy to follow the same blueprint.

Few risks were being taken by either side, although one of the visitors’ more enterprising moves saw Garnacho test Perri’s reflexes when he met Dorgu’s centre at the back post.

Garnacho was replaced soon after by Kobbie Mainoo, the Academy graduate returning from injury to make his first appearance since early February. It was another substitute who provided the moment of the night, though.

Zirkzee had been quiet since being swapped in for Hojlund on the hour, but the tall Dutchman was in the right place at the right time to head Fernandes’s cross over Perri.

It seemed that would be enough to give United the advantage heading back to Manchester for next Thursday’s second leg, until Cherki pounced with seconds to go after his shot was parried back into the mixer by Onana.

MATCH DETAILS

United: Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire (Lindelof 83), Yoro; Dalot, Casemiro, Ugarte (Mount 72), Dorgu; Garnacho (Mainoo 83), Fernandes (c); Hojlund (Zirkzee 63).

Subs not used: Bayindir, Heaton, Amass, Kamason, Kukonki, Shaw, Eriksen, Moorhouse.

Booked: Dalot, Ugarte, Mount, Mainoo.

Goals: Yoro 45+5, Zirkzee 88

Lyon: Perri; Maitland-Niles, Mata, Niakhate, Tagliafico; Tolisso (c), Akouokou (Lacazette 51); Veretout, Cherki, Almada; Mikautadze.

Subs not used: Descamps, Diarra, Abner Vinicius, Barisic, Caleta-Car, Kumbedi, De Carvalho, Omari, Matic, Molebe, Rodriguez.

Booked: Tagliafico.

Goals: Almada 25, Cherki 90+5.

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