No regrets for Ruben

The Reds head into the Old Trafford encounter all square at 2-2, after an entertaining first leg in France, and know the competition represents the chance to not only win a trophy despite the most difficult of seasons, but also to enter the 2025/26 Champions League.

The 4-1 defeat at Newcastle United was a chastening one, even if it was always going to be a physical examination against a side fresh from a clear week of inactivity who are famed for their powerful running and pressing.

After making five changes to his side, Amorim said he had no regrets about the selection, with one eye on Lyon, and was also asked about Altay Bayindir and Harry Amass, who both started at St James' Park.

See what he told journalists at the ground, following the final whistle...

You worked so hard to get back into the game at the end of the first half but then the second half seemed completely detached from the first?

"When we suffered the second goal, at the beginning of the second half, we went down. We need to be better in these moments. We need to control it. They are already a really, really good team but then, with the mistakes we made, we helped give the opponents confidence to win the game."

It was a tough day for Altay Bayindir, as he let in four goals and the fourth one was down to him...

"What I say is I continue to do the same. We are going to analyse the game but we need to focus on the next one. We cannot change this one. The next one is massive for us. Let's focus on the next one, to play better and win the game."

You made a lot of changes and it must have been a calculated risk so do you have any regrets?

"No, nothing. Nothing because we did mistakes and they were better. Even if we put a different XI, I don't know the result. But then we had to make choices as we played three days ago. So you can see with Josh, he was fresh but had some problem. So, sometimes, we need to make choices and then we don't know the result, even with a different XI."

Did you start prioritising Thursday with the three substitutions, when ZIrkzee went off?

"Yes, I was waiting for 60 minutes, more or less, but then with Josh, I was a little bit, not afraid, but trying to avoid any more [injuries]."

What is the goalkeeping situation - will Andre Onana be back in consideration against Lyon?

"You guys have to wait. We are going to start the next week tomorrow and then I'm going to choose the best starting XI for the next one."

United are guaranteed to have the lowest points in a Premier League season so how do you go from here? You said last Wednesday about having one more second on the ball in the Europa League and it's a different game but Newcastle made sure you didn't have a second, so how do you build from here?

"The first part of the question is a reflection of our season. We have to accept that we need improvement to move forward, and to try to do things so much better in the future, so we don't have the same kind of season. You can see some of the goals, that they were down to pressure, and you lose possession in some moments and some spaces that we cannot lose possession. We have to improve a lot of things but our position is a reflection of our season. One hundred per cent."

Can you take any positives after a result like that, as, at times, some of the football looked better as you put together some decent moves?

"It's really difficult to look at the best things. The best thing is to focus on the next one. Analyse this one but it's really hard to be here, after this result, to try to see it. Maybe, in a few days, I will watch the game and try to take that but it's really hard in this moment to have any good feeling about the game."

What did you think about Harry Amass's performance, on his first start?

"I think he did quite well. He could catch a player that is really fast. He made his debut in one of the hardest stadiums, with one team that is really in a good moment. I think he did really well so he needs to continue. We need to help all these kids to perform in a higher level."