How Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes reacted to Manchester United’s extraordinary win over Lyon in Europa League quarter-final

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Manchester United are through to the Europa League semi-finals after one of the most extraordinary nights of football that has even taken place at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils played out a 5-4 thriller against Lyon to go through 7-6 on aggregate, and they did so having gone 4-2 down in extra time.

Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot had Manchester United 2-0 up at half-time, but goals from Corentin Tolisso and Nicolas Tagliafico made it 2-2, forcing extra time.

Rayan Cherki then netted in the 14th minute of extra time before Alexandre Lacazette’s penalty had the Red Devils staring down the barrel of a humiliating defeat.

However, Bruno Fernandes then scored a penalty of his own to give Man United some late, late hope.

Then, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire struck not long before penalties to sensationally put Man United through to the semi-finals at Lyon’s expense.

Man United legends Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes both shared their verdicts on the game not long after the final whistle.

Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes hail ‘outrageous’ and ‘special’ Manchester United win over Lyon

Ferdinand, speaking on TNT Sports, noted how many Man United fans began leaving when Lyon scored twice in extra time.

He spoke of how “amazing” and “outrageous” the finale was, and said he’s now “a believer” after noting it would’ve needed “more than a miracle” for Man United to progress.

“I’ve never seen anything like that as a spectator,” Ferdinand said. “It was an amazing thing. We saw so many fans leaving when it was 4-2 and you thought that was over.

“I said on commentary it would take more than a miracle to get back into it and now I’m actually a believer because that was outrageous.”

Meanwhile, Scholes compared the feeling when Maguire scored to when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer struck his late winner against Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final.

“You’ve seen special things happen at this club,” Scholes said on TNT Sports.

“I think back to the Ole Gunnar against Liverpool. It reminded me slightly, 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.”

Who Manchester United play in Europa League semi-finals

Man United take on Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League semi-finals.

The first leg is scheduled to take place on Thursday 1 May, with the second leg scheduled for Thursday 8 May.

Before contesting the Europa League semi-finals, Man United host Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League this Sunday.

Ruben Amorim’s charges then head to Bournemouth in the league on Sunday 27 April, before then heading to Athletic for their first leg.