Much has been said, and rightly so, about how dismal Manchester United’s season has been. 14th in the league, closer to the relegation scrap than the familiar heights they once called home. But last night? Last night was a reminder of what United can still be.
It wasn’t just a comeback; it was a remontada for the ages. Lyon had flipped a two-goal deficit to lead 3-2, then 4-2. With less than 12 minutes left on the clock, United needed three goals. It was madness. And somehow, when time is short and all seems lost, the real magic often happens.
In a way, it’s less torturous to have to act instantly than to sit and stew over a result, ask Arsenal fans how nervous it was awaiting their return leg against Madrid. United didn’t need to close their roof to cook up something special. Then again, as the old saying goes, “rice cooks better with the lid closed”.
When 10-men Lyon went 4-2 up, you couldn't blame anyone for thinking it was over. I certainly did. Conceding a third was bad enough; conceding a fourth from the spot felt like the final nail. But these are the nights European dreams are built on, frantic, chaotic, glorious.
United’s league season may be in ruins, but the Europa League offers a shot at redemption. Still, like Arsenal, there are three brutal hurdles standing between them and salvation.
Where do you they'd end?