Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim maintained a calm and resolute stance following a frustrating 2-2 draw against Olympique Lyonnais in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarterfinal on Thursday night. Despite goalkeeper André Onana’s two costly mistakes that handed Lyon both of their goals, Amorim insisted it was “business as usual” for his squad as they prepare for the return leg at Old Trafford.
The match at Groupama Stadium saw United fight back twice, with Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee scoring to overturn an early deficit. However, Onana’s errors – first failing to deal with a Thiago Almada free-kick in the 25th minute and then spilling a shot in stoppage time, allowing Rayan Cherki to equalize – denied the Red Devils a crucial away victory.
Speaking to the media post-match, Amorim dismissed calls to drop the under-fire goalkeeper, emphasizing a collective approach to the team’s performance. “When one player makes a mistake, all the team makes a mistake,” he said. “We continue to do the same thing – training, analyzing the games, and choosing the best eleven to win every match.”
Onana, who has faced intense scrutiny this season, was also at the center of a pre-match war of words with former United midfielder Nemanja Matic, now at Lyon, who branded him “one of the worst goalkeepers in United’s history.” Despite the criticism, Amorim expressed unwavering confidence in the 29-year-old Cameroonian, stating, “There’s nothing I can say to André in this moment that will help. We focus on the game, what happened, and how we improve.”
The draw leaves the tie finely balanced ahead of the second leg, with United still unbeaten in this season’s Europa League campaign. Amorim acknowledged the disappointment of conceding late but remained optimistic about his team’s progress. “We controlled much of the second half and should have taken a lead back to Manchester,” he noted. “But this is football – mistakes happen, and we move forward.”
United’s defensive resilience was tested in Lyon, but Amorim’s decision to field an unchanged lineup from their recent Manchester derby showcased his trust in the squad’s core. Critics, including Lyon’s Cherki, suggested United’s cautious midfield pairing of Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte showed fear, but Amorim brushed off the remarks, focusing instead on the bigger picture.
As United shift their attention to a Premier League clash against Newcastle on Sunday, Amorim’s message was clear: no knee-jerk reactions, no scapegoating. “I’ve made more mistakes than them in recent months,” he admitted with a wry smile, signaling his commitment to backing his players through adversity.