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Ferdinand: Never seen anything like United win; Scholes recalls famous comeback

  /  autty

Rio Ferdinand hailed Man United after their miraculous comeback against Lyon in the Europa League.

United looked to be heading out of the competition on Thursday night, with the French side 6-4 up on aggregate with just six minutes to go in extra time.

Given Lyon had 10-men and had been trailing 2-0, it felt like a new nadir for Ruben Amorim's tenure at Old Trafford.

However, goals from Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire ensured United progressed to the semi-finals in remarkable fashion.

Maguire's 121st minute header took the roof off Old Trafford and led to some memorable scenes at full-time.

And Ferdinand, who was commentating on the game for TNT Sports, expressed his shock at what had just happened.

'I've never seen anything like that as a spectator,' he said. 'We saw so many fans leaving at 4-2.

'I said it would take more than a miracle to get back into it and now I'm a believer because that was outrageous.'

Paul Scholes was similarly left in awe of what had gone on just moments before as he reflected on famous United comebacks of years gone by.

'You've seen special things happen at this club,' he added. 'I think back to the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (goal) against Liverpool. It reminded me slightly (of that), I know that's only 2-1 and this was 5-4.

'I always feel like when you get one here you've got a chance.'

The Solskjaer comeback Scholes referred to came in the FA Cup fourth round during the 1998-99 season when United won the Treble.

Back then, Sir Alex Ferguson's side were trailing 1-0 to arch-rivals Liverpool in the 89th minute.

However, a goal from Dwight Yorke and a 92nd minute strike from Solskjaer after he was introduced off the bench late on completed a remarkable turnaround and United went onto win the FA Cup that season.

Nevertheless, the Lyon comeback will go down of one of the club's greatest ever European nights and Amorim was left delighted at full-time.

'4-2 with one more player and you think it's over,’ he said. ‘But here, it's never over.

‘I was watching again the ‘99 documentary for inspiration for these moments, it was a great night.’