‘Errors are Part of the Game’: Amorim Stands by Man United Keeper Onana Following Lyon Blunders

Ruben Amorim has come to the defence of Andre Onana, asserting that errors “can occur” following the Manchester United goalkeeper’s blunders during Thursday’s 2-2 draw against Lyon in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.

Prior to the match, Onana found himself embroiled in a verbal spat with Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic, who labelled the keeper “one of the worst” in the club’s history.

Onana faced jeers from the Lyon crowd every time he touched the ball, and his attempt to stop Thiago Almada’s free-kick was lacklustre, allowing the home side to take the lead.

Although Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee had turned things around for United, another mistake from Onana enabled Rayan Cherki to level the scores with the final kick of the match.

“Mistakes can happen. When you’re playing football and involved in numerous matches, it’s part of the game,” said United manager Amorim. “At this moment, there’s not much I can say to Andre that would provide any solace.”

“We’ve got another match ahead of us to rectify things, and that is where our focus should lie,” he added.

Despite remaining unbeaten in European competition this season, Amorim conceded that the late equaliser had left his players feeling disheartened.

“I noticed the dressing room was quite subdued, which isn’t necessarily a bad sign. Drawing away in Europe is tough. The team is feeling the pressure, and we need to turn that around,” he stated.

With the Europa League representing their sole opportunity for Champions League qualification and the financial rewards that accompany it, United are acutely aware that their season hinges on the return leg next week.

“I believe it’s a 50-50 chance,” Amorim remarked. “It’s going to be a challenging match, but when we play at home with our supporters, it feels like we have an extra player.”

Nineteen-year-old Yoro, who had worked with Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca during his time at Lille, is optimistic that United can overcome the challenge after netting his first goal for the club.

“We understand that matches like this away from home are pivotal; winning puts us in a great position for the return leg,”

he explained.

“Regrettably, we conceded that late goal, so coming away with a draw means we will do everything in our power to secure victory in the second leg.”

However, Cherki warned that Lyon are poised to deliver more as they gear up for the next encounter.

“We deserved a better result. We played stronger, and from the very beginning, we sensed that they were fearful,”

he stated.

“Now we’re just awaiting the opportunity to head over there and win. Their decision to deploy two defensive midfielders against us indicates to me that they are wary.”