Man Utd stars Mazraoui and Lindelof forced to leave Old Trafford at half time due to urgent family issues
VICTOR LINDELOF and Noussair Mazraoui were forced to leave Old Trafford at half-time against Lyon due to urgent family issues.
United enjoyed one of their most dramatic and memorable European nights on Thursday.
The Red Devils needed THREE late goals in extra-time to come from 4-2 down to beat Lyon 5-4 – having earlier led 2-0 on the night.
Harry Maguire headed home the winner in injury time to send United into the Europa League semi-finals where they face Athletic Bilbao.
However, Amorim revealed there was one worrying piece of news.
Amorim spoke to TNT Sports pitchside after the win.
He revealed Lindelof and Mazraoui were forced to exit the stadium to tend to a personal matter.
He did not expand on what the issue was.
Amorim said: “We had a problem with Noussa at half time.
“Vic has a personal problem, he had to leave.”
SunSport understands that Amorim’s comments referred to both Lindelof and Mazraoui, with each player having a separate urgent family issue to attend to.
Lindelof, 30, had been warming up at half-time.
The Swedish defender was due to replace Noussair Mazraoui at the break.
However, Lindelof’s emergency meant Luke Shaw had to come on instead.
Amorim revealed the Englishman was only due to play 30 minutes as he works his way back from another lengthy injury lay-off.
Instead, he played more than 75 minutes as United threw away their two-goal lead and were taken to extra-time.
Ten-man Lyon then grabbed two more goals – one from a penalty given away by Shaw – before Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Maguire scored in the 114th, 120th and 121st minutes to complete the astonishing turnaround.
Amorim – who put Maguire up front during extra-time – added: “I was watching the 1999 [Treble] documentary to have some inspiration for these moments.
“It was a great night, the team were tired, 4-2 with one more player, we think it’s over, but here it’s never over.
“Here everything is possible, you feel the environment. At 4-3, after the Bruno Fernandes penalty, we felt we could change the game.
“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.
“We know we are underperforming and deserve all the critics, but we have time to make something special of this season
“One moment can change a lot of things in the players’ minds, we have to be really focused on Europa League and take risks sometimes with kids in Premier League. Fans have to understand that, we have to focus on the Europa League.”