'Is a problem' - Ruben Amorim names key trait Manchester United lack after Lyon win

Ruben Amorim admits 'physicality is a problem' for Manchester United even after they came from behind to defeat Lyon 5-4 in the Europa League on Thursday night. Harry Maguire scored a dramatic winner as a makeshift striker as United moved the centre-back into an advanced role in their desperate search for another goal.

United had played as the better side for the majority of the match, but paid the price for their profligacy in front of goal as the French club scored twice to force extra time. Lyon were reduced to 10 men when Corentin Tolisso was shown a second yellow card but that didn't stop them from finding the back of the net twice again in extra-time.

Amorim's side looked dead and buried at 4-2 down, but rallied to score three times in the final seven minutes of the match as they completed a dramatic comeback and booked their place in the semi-finals of the competition.

Manchester United lack physicality

Speaking after the dramatic 5-4 win over Lyon, Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim admitted that physicality was a problem for his side and would need to be addressed if they are to improve in the Premier League next season.

"We must recognise the context, we lack a lot of characteristics in our team, physicality is a problem," he told TNT Sports after the win. "When we play against European teams we can cope better with that, in the Premier League we suffer a lot.

"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."

When quizzed on his late changes that swung the game back in United’s favour, Amorim explained that Maguire was the only player he felt he could utilise as a striker. He added: "We tried to put Harry Maguire up front because he is the only one who can score a goal with a header. Kobbie Mainoo has a lack of pace in this moment because of injury, but he's really good in short spaces."