Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo expressed delight following the club’s dramatic 5-4 victory over Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday night, admitting the performance was not their best but praising the team’s resilience.
Mainoo, who is of Ghanaian descent, played a key role in the comeback at Old Trafford, scoring one of three goals in extra-time that sent United into the UEFA Europa League semi-finals.
The result sealed a remarkable 7-6 aggregate win for Erik ten Hag’s side, who had trailed Lyon 4-2 late in the second half.
“It was an amazing comeback,” Mainoo said after the final whistle. “When I came on I tried to bring energy, contribute to the team, carry on the energy and feed off the other players.”
Reflecting on his composed finish, Mainoo explained: “When the ball drops to you, a yard feels like a mile. You’ve got to stay as calm as you can.”
Although United celebrated one of their most thrilling European wins in recent memory, the 18-year-old admitted the overall performance left room for improvement.
“The performance wasn’t up to the highest standard,” he said. “But a win like that can bring so much momentum—we’re rolling the snowball, and it could get bigger and bigger.”
United’s second-leg clash with Lyon had appeared to be slipping away, with the French side leading 4-2 heading into the closing stages.
But Mainoo’s goal, along with crucial strikes from Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes in extra-time, sparked jubilant scenes at Old Trafford.
The win sees United advance to the semi-finals of the Europa League, where they will face Athletic Bilbao.
The Red Devils, chasing a first European title since 2017, will look to carry the momentum from Thursday’s comeback into the final stages of the competition.
“Hopefully we can go all the way,” Mainoo concluded.
