The front page of Le Progres summarized the mood in Lyon yesterday. Nuit the foil, Tristesse Infinite. Night of madness, infinite sorrow.
Nobody would dispute the first half of that head after a night of beautiful bedlam to see Manchester United reach the semi -final of the Europa League.
The mood at Old Trafford and Carrington, however, was anything but sad, because United thought about a comeback that, even because of their standards, almost defied.
With a backlog of 4-2 to Lyon's 10 men in the second period of extra time, United came up to win 5-4 while emergency stitcher Harry Maguire went home in the 121st minute. “It was an incredible feeling to score that winner in the strangest, craziest game I've ever played or witnessed,” said the United Defender.
By Friday morning it was things as usual on the training field, because the players involved had a warm-down against Lyon and those who were not participating in a full session prior to tomorrow's match against Wolves in Old Trafford.
It would be understandable if there was a feeling of anti-climax, but Ruben Amorim would like to use the spirit of his players in the midst of Thursday's chaos for the rest of the season. That was his last message to them when the celebrations then briefly paused and Chief Executive Omar Bercrada and technical director Jason Wilcox in the dressing room to offer their congratulations.
Bless players Amad Diallo, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez and Joshua Zirkzee were already there to add to the feeling of unity. A night that will go off in Old Trafford Folklore had started with a small change in the step of previous competitions, because United tried to increase the atmosphere prior to the kick -off.
Draj-Diogo Dalot of the dressing room was responsible for compiling a compilation of the favorite songs of his teammates to be played in the stadium while warming up, so there was more an international theme than normal.
It still ended with Take Me Home United Road, which was played this season before the kick -off at the request of Captain Bruno Fernandes, after consulting his teammates.
“When we won the FA Cup last season, it was the first song they set up in the dressing room,” Fernandes told a fans group in Old Trafford last week. “Sometimes I notice that I will sing that song in the beginning when I wait for the referee!”
During that meeting, Fernandes was shown for the first time the new Tifo banner that was unveiled before the Lyon game, again with the intention of shooting the atmosphere.
“Never stop,” said it, with a tribute to the past European glory of United. The club does not have the setup within Old Trafford for Tifos like many of their European rivals, so approval was requested from the owners to install it on time for the Lyon game.
The Sir Alex Ferguson stand was chosen as the best site because there was not enough space between the field and the Stretford end for a pulley system there.
It set the scene for a night of drama when Lyon recovered from 2-0 to lead 4-2 in extra time, despite the fact that Captain Corentin Tolisso was sent. 'We can clearly not be done on two counterattacks such as those playing against 10 men. It's criminal, “said Maguire.
During the rest of Extra Time, Amorim threw the defender of England in front and pushed Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo closer to the goal of Lyon, a movement that has been thrown spectacularly. Maguire believes that the sight of Lyon's replacements and coaching staff that celebrated on the field also served as inspiration.
“They thought they had won it, as they celebrated,” he added. “That gave us more an incentive to turn the game around.”
United wants to find the young fan, seen by millions on television, whose tears changed to cheers. Some of the hundreds of supporters who left early watched the drama to fold on TVs from outside the stadium.
Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca admitted his side 'way too much' when they continued. Sources later describe a scene of destruction in the dressing room, especially for the younger players.
“It was the worst game of their lives,” said an insider.
United's victory was more dramatic because Noussair Mazraoui and replacement Victor Lindelof both had to leave Old Trafford during the time due to urgent but non-related family problems, now resolved.
Amorim confirmed yesterday that both players are available for Wolves. “Everything is fine now,” said the United Boss. “There are things more important than football and they will be ready to face the next game.”