Two Man United players forced to leave Old Trafford at half-time due to urgent issues

 

Man United enjoyed one of the most dramatic nights in their European history as they overturned a 6-4 aggregate deficit against Lyon to score three goals in six extra-time minutes and reach the semi-finals of the Europa League.

Their triumph was tempered however by the news that two players had to leave Old Trafford at half-time due to urgent family issues which are said to be entirely unrelated.

Noussair Mazraoui was replaced by Luke Shaw while Victor Lindelof failed to retake his place on the Man United bench for the second half.

Man United manager Ruben Amorim said: 'We had a problem with Noussa at half time.

'Vic has a personal problem, he had to leave.'

Amorim did not expand on what the issues were but explained that Shaw was only due to play 30 minutes as he works his way back from another lengthy injury lay-off.

Instead, the England left-back ended up playing more than 75 minutes as United threw away their two-goal lead and were taken to extra-time.

Ten-man Lyon then scored two goals in extra time — one from a penalty given away by Shaw — before Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire scored in the 114th, 120th and 121st minutes to complete an astonishing turnaround.

Amorim, who rolled the dice by putting both Mainoo and Maguire up front for the final minutes, explained his inspiration for engineering one of the club's biggest ever comebacks.

‘4-2 with one more player and you think it's over,’ Amorim said.

‘But here, it's never over. I was watching again the ‘99 documentary for inspiration for these moments, it was a great night.’

'We tried to put Harry Maguire up front because he is the only one who can score a goal with a header.

'The sounds of the stadium was the best ever. Some people collect shirts, scarves, but I want to keep that sound, it's the best sound in the world.

'I feel for the people who had to leave at 4-2 because of the traffic, they will be gutted.'

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