For a moment we could forget the season we are having Amorim

LONDON – Manchester United can turn a miserable season into a memorable one, manager Ruben Amorim said on April 17 after watching his Red Devils mount a stunning fightback to beat Lyon 5-4 and reach the Europa League semi-finals 7-6 on aggregate.

United’s season appeared over with just six minutes of extra time left at Old Trafford as they trailed 4-2 despite Lyon being reduced to 10 men.

A Bruno Fernandes penalty in the 114th minute then kick-started the comeback before Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire struck to spark wild scenes of celebration.

In regulation time, Manuel Ugarte opened the scoring before Diogo Dalot added a second just before the break to double the hosts’ lead.

But two goals in six second-half minutes from Corentin Tolisso and Nicolas Tagliafico forced the extra period, when further goals from Rayan Cherki and Alexandre Lacazette put Lyon in the driving seat, before captain Fernandes sparked the fightback.

Amorim admitted he had watched a documentary of United’s famous treble in 1999, when they came from 1-0 down in stoppage time of the Champions League final to beat Bayern Munich 2-1.

In what has been an otherwise dreadful campaign with the English giants languishing 14th in the Premier League, another famous European comeback will live long in the memory for United fans.

“In this stadium, in this club, you always have that feeling that anything can happen and today was another day like that,” said Amorim.

“We know we are underperforming and deserve all the critics, but we have time to make something special of this season.”

United will face Athletic Bilbao in the last four, with Tottenham Hotspur up against Bodo/Glimt in the other semi-final.

If they fail to win the competition, they will almost certainly miss out on European football entirely next season