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Harry Maguire produced one of the most joyous moments at Old Trafford in many a year - Getty Images/Robbie Jay Barratt
It is no wonder Rory McIlroy is a Manchester United supporter. This is a club that, like him, prefers to do things the hard way. As the 5-4 win over Lyon proved, United favour drama over continuity. Few are as adept at looking at ease, then shooting themselves in the foot, before defying all odds and expectations and somehow recovering in the most breathtaking fashion. Thursday’s Europa League quarter final was McIlroy’s final round at the Masters writ large: from dominance to misery to restoration in one ridiculous swoop. Pandemonium is not an adequate word to describe it all.
This was the pattern established in the glory days of Sir Alex Ferguson, exemplified in the Camp Nou on 26 May 1999: never give up, never yield, never assume it is over. And somehow, even as the team has faltered and flopped in the 12 seasons since the great man’s retirement, even as 10 different managers have attempted to impose some sort of control, that pattern has remained stitched into the fabric of the club. The easy way is still spurned. Thursday night was by no means the first time. Here is a top five.
5) Premier League vs Southampton, November 29, 2020
Pity there was nobody there to see it. But this Covid-afflicted, behind closed doors game encapsulated the post-Fergie United. 2-0 down at half time, they looked forlorn, adrift, hopeless. But then the manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brought on Edinson Cavani, and the veteran striker changed everything. He got things rolling with a magnificent diving header. Then he set up Bruno Fernandes for the equaliser. Before, with his mane of hair flying, in the final minute of added time, he dived again to head the winner, hauling his side back to a victory that seemed beyond remote 45 minutes earlier.
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Edinson Cavani was a cult hero among Manchester United fans but was sidelined by the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo - Getty Images/Robin Jones
4) FA Cup Semi Final vs Coventry City, April 21, 2024
United’s then newly installed joint owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was running the London Marathon the morning of the game and arrived at Wembley from the Mall at half time to find his team were winning 3-0. A gentle stroll of a first half in the spring sunshine against a Championship side had apparently ensured another appearance in the FA Cup final. But this is United, so nothing should be taken for granted. Indeed, chivvied by their ex-United hero of a manager Mark Robins, Coventry came back.
To those uninitiated in United lore, their first goal looked like a consolation. Their second was reflected in the look of fury spreading across Ratcliffe’s face. For those in the know, their third seemed inevitable. Indeed United looked duly finished when Victor Torp scored what appeared to be the winner in added time at the end of extra time. But his effort was deemed to be offside by VAR. And United progressed to the final on penalties.
COVENTRY CITY LEAD IN EXTRA TIME!!!️
BUT WAIT... IT'S OFFSIDE!
CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS GAME?!#ITVFootball | #FACup | @Coventry_citypic.twitter.com/WZsosDekr1
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) April 21, 2024
3) Champions League Last 16 vs Paris St-Germain, March 5, 2019
Solskjaer, the architect of United’s greatest ever comeback in 1999, had just become the club’s interim manager, taking over from the toxic mess of Jose Mourinho’s fall out. When PSG, managed by Thomas Tuchel, won the first leg at Old Trafford 2-0, his task in the second seemed beyond remote. Not least because 10 of his first team regulars were unavailable. But with Marcus Rashford delivering probably his finest ever United performance, scoring the crucial third away goal with a nerveless penalty in added time, the necessary victory was secured. And it gave Solskjaer the job on a permanent basis.
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Marcus Rashford dispatched his penalty with authority beyond Gianluigi Buffon - Reuters/Christian Hartmann
2) FA Cup Sixth Round vs Liverpool, March 17, 2024
United had every incentive in this game, not least because their great rivals were seeking to mark Jurgen Klopp’s farewell season with a quadruple. And they started well, Scott McTominay giving them an early lead. But gloom had descended over Old Trafford before half time, when Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah established Liverpool dominance. It seemed like an inevitable win for Klopp’s team, until, with just four minutes to go, Antony, of all people, hauled United back in. And Marcus Rashford could have won it at the death, but missed a straightforward opportunity. That appeared to be that for United, especially when Harvey Elliott scored what looked like the winner in extra time. But this was United. First Rashford equalised, then, in a galloping, tearaway break, Amad Diallo delivered the most unexpected denouement.
1) Europa League quarter final v Lyon, April 17, 2025
Just bonkers. Normal, sane, sensible clubs would have consolidated their first-half dominance and seen out victory with calm authority. But this is Manchester United, so instead they conceded four goals to give their opponents what appeared to be an unassailable extra-time advantage. Inside Old Trafford dozens of the forlorn and defeated made their way to the exits. They should have known. Nothing stirs those in red shirts as much as ludicrous improbability. And with Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire as stand-in centre forwards, in seven minutes of mayhem, they duly delivered the comeback of all times.
HARRY MAGUIRE DOES IT AGAIN!
Man United have completed the comeback
@tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/mcNnClCikl
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 17, 2025
They will probably now capitulate in the semi final to Athletic Club, the side with the motivation of playing the final in their home stadium. But even if they do, this flawed, flaky, wholly unsound team will have at least delivered one proper United performance.
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