Harry Maguire offers Athletic Club verdict as Man Utd dream of Europa League glory

captain has revealed that the premature celebrations of Lyon's players served as a catalyst for their stunning Europa League comeback - but says United can't get too carried away given they have Athletic Bilbao up next. Despite squandering a 2-0 lead at Old Trafford and then trailing 4-2, United managed to net three goals in the final seven minutes of extra time to secure a thrilling 5-4 win.

This turnaround not only booked them a semi-final spot against Athletic Bilbao but also kept their hopes alive of salvaging a tumultuous season with some silverware. Maguire, who scored the decisive goal in the 121st minute, described it as the "maddest game" he has ever participated in. He claimed that seeing Lyon's players celebrate as if they had already won provided all the motivation United needed. "I think it was the 109th minute when they scored their fourth goal," said Maguire. "I think they thought they'd won it, the way they were celebrating. That gave us more of an incentive to turn the game around."

Down 4-2 in extra time, United's skipper Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty kick, followed by Kobbie Mainoo's equaliser and Maguire's winning strike, leaving Lyon's players stunned. "It was a game that was full of emotion and the strangest, maddest game I've ever played in or witnessed, to be honest," Maguire added.

"I think the lads showed great spirit and fight to dig in and turn it around at the end. It was an incredible feeling to score t The winner in such a crucial match, he reflected: "I've had some amazing moments at this club. I've been here six years and had some great times - some bad times as well. I think that game pretty much summed up my time at this club, to be honest.

"I don't know how I would have felt if I had come in after a 4-2 defeat - it's not even worth trying to think about that. We showed great spirit at that moment [trailing 4-2] because, I don't know how everyone else felt, but I'm sure they felt really disappointed and maybe like we'd let everyone down."

Despite their euphoria at progressing in such dramatic style, Maguire admitted United are only in the semi-finals and a long way from lifting the trophy in Bilbao on May 21.

"Listen, we're only in the semi-final and we're playing Athletic Bilbao" said Maguire. "I don't know if people are saying they're the favourites to win the competition, but we'll go into it with great belief to win the game."

"But we're only in the semi-final, so we don't want to get carried away in terms of talking about winning the competition.

"Of course, though, moments like this are something that the fans can go home with and there were probably people in the stands for whom it might have been their first game and they go home with a great memory of Old Trafford.

"This season it's been so difficult for everyone involved, all the fans, all the players, the staff. It's been nowhere near good enough and when you get moments like that and you create memories like that, it's so crucial for the supporters to leave with a smile on their faces."