Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has thrown his full support behind under-fire goalkeeper Andre Onana after a turbulent evening in France saw the Red Devils settle for a 2-2 draw against Lyon in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarterfinal clash.
The match, played at a packed Groupama Stadium, was filled with drama, controversy, and late heartbreak for United. It also reignited the spotlight on Onana, who found himself at the center of attention for all the wrong reasons after two costly mistakes helped Lyon remain very much in the tie.
Pre-Match Tensions Spill Onto the Pitch
The buildup to the encounter had already taken a tense turn after Onana became embroiled in a public war of words with Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic, a former Manchester United player. In a scathing remark, Matic labeled Onana as “one of the worst” goalkeepers in the club’s history — a comment that triggered widespread reactions from fans and pundits alike.
The hostility clearly followed Onana into the stadium. He was loudly booed by the Lyon faithful every time he touched the ball, and their jeers grew louder when his soft-handed attempt to stop Thiago Almada’s free-kick resulted in the opening goal for the hosts.
United Fight Back, But Onana’s Nightmares Continue
Despite the early setback, Manchester United responded strongly. Young defender Leny Yoro, who is making waves at just 19 years old and has previously played under Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca at Lille, leveled the score with his first goal for the club. Joshua Zirkzee then gave the visitors the lead, completing what looked like a solid comeback performance for the Premier League side.
However, in the dying moments of the match, a second lapse from Onana allowed Lyon’s Rayan Cherki to snatch an equalizer with the final kick of the game — a blow that left the United players visibly deflated.
Amorim Stands Firm Behind His Keeper
Speaking after the match, Amorim did not shy away from addressing Onana’s mistakes but refused to point fingers.
“It can happen,” Amorim said. “If you play football, and we play a lot of games, you can make mistakes. There is nothing I can say to Andre in this moment that will help.”
Amorim emphasized that the team must now shift their focus to the return leg at Old Trafford.
“We have one more game to change everything and that should be our focus,” he stated. “I felt the dressing room was really quiet and that is a good thing. We draw away in Europe, that is always hard. The team is suffering and we need to change that.”
Season on the Line for United
The stakes couldn’t be higher for Manchester United. With their Premier League form falling short of guaranteeing a Champions League spot, lifting the Europa League trophy is their only viable path back to Europe’s elite competition — and the significant financial rewards that come with it.
Amorim acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead but struck a hopeful tone.
“I think it’s 50-50,” he said. “It’s a really difficult match but when we play at home with our fans, we play with one more player.”
Yoro, meanwhile, expressed optimism that the team can finish the job next week at Old Trafford.
“We know that matches like these, away from home, if we win it puts us in a really good position for the return at home,” the defender said. “Unfortunately we conceded that goal at the end, so we come away with a draw and will do everything to win the second leg.”
Lyon’s Confidence Grows
But Lyon won’t be short on confidence either. Rayan Cherki, whose late goal salvaged the draw for the French side, didn’t hold back in his post-match comments.
“We deserved a lot better,” said the 21-year-old. “We were better and from the start we felt the fear in them.”
Cherki interpreted United’s tactical setup as a sign of weakness.
“When they set up against us with two defensive midfielders, that means they're afraid of us,” he added. “Now we're just waiting for one thing — to go over there to win.”
What’s Next?
With the second leg set to take place at Old Trafford next week, both sides have everything to play for. United will be hoping to overcome their defensive mishaps and capitalize on home advantage, while Lyon are poised to exploit any further errors.
For Onana, the pressure will only intensify, but with the backing of his manager and teammates, he’ll have a chance at redemption. As Amorim said, mistakes may happen — but it's how a team responds that defines their fate.
One way or another, the second leg promises fireworks, with a place in the Europa League semifinals — and perhaps Manchester United’s entire season — hanging in the balance.
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