Ruben Amorim has revealed that Victor Lindelof was forced to leave Old Trafford due to a personal issue just moments before Manchester United’s dramatic Europa League quarter-final triumph over Lyon.
The Red Devils staged an extraordinary comeback to keep their Champions League qualification hopes alive, overcoming a 6–4 aggregate deficit late in extra time to claim a sensational 7–6 win.
Goals from Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, and a last-gasp header from Harry Maguire in the 121st minute completed a memorable turnaround after Lyon had taken a seemingly unassailable lead, despite being reduced to ten men following Corentin Tolisso’s sending off.
“Here, it’s never over.”
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, a visibly exhausted Amorim admitted he had turned to Manchester United’s 1999 Champions League documentary for inspiration ahead of the clash.
“It was hard. I was watching the ’99 documentary to have some inspiration for these moments… You think it’s over at 4–2, but here, it’s never over.”
Amorim praised his side’s spirit in the face of adversity and credited the belief instilled by Old Trafford’s electric atmosphere:
“After Bruno’s penalty for 4–3, you feel that you can change the game. Here, everything is possible.”
Lindelof’s Sudden Withdrawal
Lindelof, who was due to replace Noussair Mazraoui at halftime, was withdrawn at the last minute after receiving personal news. Luke Shaw, initially set to play just 30 minutes, stepped in for an extended spell.
“Vic had a personal problem, he had to leave. So all this stuff happened during the game. But in the end, it was a good result,” Amorim explained.
Tactical Adjustments and Fatigue
The United manager acknowledged the physical toll the match took on his squad and stressed the need for improvement:
“We are not really consistent to maintain the game in the same way for a long time. When the team gets tired, we drop a lot.”
He highlighted Alejandro Garnacho’s relentless work ethic but admitted that United are lacking in key areas:
“You see Garnacho really tired but you feel he’s the only one who can make transitions. We lack a lot of characteristics in our team.”
Looking Ahead
While Amorim expressed frustration over United’s disappointing league form, currently sitting 14th, he made it clear that European competition is now the focus:
“You can be good in European games but your reflection as a team is the league. We are underperforming, but we must look at the context. It’s almost impossible if you don’t have the full squad.”
Next up for United is a semi-final showdown with Athletic Bilbao as they continue their quest for Europa League glory—and potentially a backdoor route into the Champions League.