It looked as though Joshua Zirkzee’s 88th-minute header had given the Reds a slender advantage to take back to M16, after Leny Yoro had levelled at the end of the first half, following Thiago Almada’s opener.

But Rayan Cherki popped up in the final minute of stoppage time to equalise for Les Gones, a goal that left Amorim and his side dispirited after an encouraging display.

The boss added that United initially struggled to engage the French side at the Groupama Stadium and, although we eventually worked our way back into the match, admitted there is room for improvement ahead of the Old Trafford return.

It's a game the Reds will have to approach differently, as Ruben specified during his interviews with the media after the final whistle...

ALL TO PLAY FOR

“Of course we are really disappointed. We should have taken the one-goal advantage to the next game, but we have the next game in our home and we try to win that game.”

NO BLAME FOR LYON GOALS

“It’s important to focus on the next game. The next game is the league, then we think about the second leg against Lyon. When one player has a mistake, every player has a mistake, so we continue like that.”

WE IMPROVED DURING THE GAME

“I think we did well. In the first half, we had some difficulties, especially in the beginning, to press the opponent, because they play in a different way. But then especially in the second half we adapted to control the game. We were near the box of Lyon, so I think we did well. We can do better.”

ADAPTING TO LYON

“We tried to explain to the players the way Lyon were playing. We worked on a different thing [pre-match], and we changed in the middle of the first half. The second half we adapted more to what they want to do in the game.”

CONVERTING CHANCES INTO GOALS

“We are improving game by game but we need to be more clinical. Again, it’s two games: it’s half-time and we need to think on the next one. Put the ball in the net, that’s all. We are improving so let’s continue to think like that. We have a Premier League game on Sunday against a top team and then we have time to think about the second leg.”

COOL HEADS FOR THE SECOND LEG

“It’s going to be a tough game. We know Lyon want to make connections near their box and then use the space. We have to study the game and then try to be better in the second leg. We are going to look at the game, but it’s a different game. We have to be prepared but it’s in our stadium. Our fans want us to press all the time and this is a team that is really smart, that try to push us, to use the space behind. We have to be really smart, not just playing with the heart but playing with our head. In the second leg we are going to do that.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF WINNING THIS COMPETITION

“It’s not just the coach, it’s everybody that’s here: the staff, the players. Everybody has to understand that it’s a massive club, with a big responsibility. We want to play Champions League, we’d love to play Champions League next year but we have a lot to do with our club. We are in our path, trying to do things right. So it’s step-by-step, let’s think about Newcastle then we’ll be okay to face the next game.”