Ruben Amorim drew inspiration from Manchester United’s historic 1999 Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich as his team staged a dramatic comeback against Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals. Trailing 1-0, United's late goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær sealed the famous victory 26 years ago. Amorim emphasized the resilience and belief instilled in his team, comparing the never-say-die attitude to the treble-winning side of 1999.
In a remarkable turn of events, Lyon initially led 4-2 with a numerical advantage before United fought back in extra time. Harry Maguire’s header in the 121st minute secured a 6-6 aggregate draw, propelling United to a semi-final clash with Athletic Bilbao. Amorim’s tactical adjustments, including deploying Maguire as a makeshift striker and praising Kobbie Mainoo’s contributions despite injury concerns, proved instrumental in the thrilling comeback. Looking ahead, Amorim stressed the need for focus and determination to pursue success in the competition, acknowledging the challenges that lie ahead in the semi-final stage.