Lyon’s 10 men had just scored their fourth goal when the cameras were turned on the directors’ box. Sat side by side, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox, the chief executive and technical director, were pictures of despondency. A few minutes later, the focus of the television directors was understandably elsewhere. Three goals in eight minutes at Old Trafford had transformed the mood, perhaps the season, perhaps a reign and a regime.
For them, judgement day had been postponed. Until Thursday in Bilbao, or next Thursday against Athletic Bilbao, or maybe a return trip to Bilbao. From Ruben Amorim, however, a verdict has already been delivered. “Nothing is going to save our season,” he said. Yet there was a caveat. “But this can be huge.” Manchester United may yet end with a couple of feats that might have signified a good year – a trophy and a Champions League spot – yet it is impossible to completely separate them from the ignominy of their worst league campaign in decades. Their league season has been so garish that their manager feels problems cannot be solved simply with one piece of silverware. It could bring a boost to revenue of some £100m, a far greater transfer budget for Amorim. He nevertheless warned: “Europa League [will] not change anything in our problems – it’s going to give us Champions League next year, more money to spend – but the problems are still there.”
