After leading 4-2 until the 113rd minute, OL finally lost 5-4 this Thursday evening in the quarter-final return of the Europa League against Manchester United (7-6 cumulative). After the meeting, Paulo Fonseca praised the courage of his players. While regretting a lack of concentration in the final moments.
The theater of dreams may haunt Paulo Fonseca for a long time. While Olympique Lyonnais led 4-2 to the 113rd minute of its quarter-final return from the Europa League against Manchester United, this Thursday evening, the Red Devils finally overthrew in the final moments. At the end of an incredible scenario, the English club scored three goals in eight minutes to snatch the qualification (5-4, 7-6 cumulative).
>> Unit-Unit-Un-OL (5-4 ap, 7-6 in cumulated)
How to explain the end of the surreal match between Man United and OL? – 04/17
OL, however, thought it had done the hardest after a first missed period. Led 2-0 at halftime, the Lyonnais were able to go back to 2-2 before the end of regulation time and to 4-2 in overtime. Then the Rhone club collapsed. “It’s difficult to explain … It’s a mixture of emotions,” said Paulo Fonseca at the microphone of Canal+ after this unreal evening. “The players did great things. After the first two goals of Manchester United, having the ability to change and lead 4-2 … But we thought that the result was done and we should have stayed concentrated. They marked the penalty and we lacked mental energy and emotional balance.”
Paulo Fonseca: “We have to understand what we did here”
“I am sad because I think we deserved more,” insisted the Portuguese coach. “We have done magnificent things and we have proven our quality. But we have to learn from this moment. We have to continue to be concentrated until the last minute. How to digest? We have to understand what we did here. We had magnificent moments, it is not easy to come here and play against Manchester United. Doing what we did after taking the two goals … I said to my players. were ready to have an end of the season in accordance with our ambitions and our quality. “
While Manchester United will challenge Bilbao in the semi-finals, OL will therefore have to focus on Ligue 1. In the middle of a race for Europe, Rayan Cherki’s teammates move on the lawn of Saint-Étienne on Sunday at the end of the 30th day of Ligue 1..
