Olympique Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca has warned Manchester United that his team’s never-give-up mentality will keep their Europa League quarterfinal tie alive, following a dramatic 2-2 draw in the first leg.
Rayan Cherki’s last-minute equalizer at home ensured Lyon remain in contention ahead of the return leg at Old Trafford.
Fonseca praised his players’ resilience and tactical approach.
“It’s really important – firstly because this team showed that they never give up.
“We’ve kept the second leg open. We know it’ll be really difficult but, after what we showed here tonight, we still have a chance.”
Rayan Cherki, born in Lyon, is of Algerian descent. He has represented France at various youth levels, including the U21 team.
The match was also marked by controversy surrounding Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana. Onana’s errors led directly to both of Lyon’s goals, including mishandling a free kick and failing to secure a rebound, both capitalized on by Lyon.
These mistakes have intensified scrutiny over Onana’s position, especially following pre-match comments from former United midfielder Nemanja Matic, now at Lyon, who had criticized Onana’s premature assertions of United’s superiority.
Looking ahead, Fonseca’s Lyon will travel to Old Trafford for the return leg on Thursday, aiming to overturn the tie in a challenging environment.
