Former Lyon goalkeeper Nicolas Puydebois has reflected on playing against Manchester United in the Champions League back in 2004.
April is set to be a busy month for Manchester United as Ruben Amorim’s side look to progress in the Europa League when they face Lyon in the quarter-finals.
United beat Real Sociedad 4-1 (5-2 on aggregate) in the round of 16 as Bruno Fernandes scored his second hat-trick for the club. His Portuguese counterpart, Diogo Dalot, also scored to aid a comeback win after United had fallen behind to Mikel Oyarzabal’s 10-th minute penalty kick.
The first leg against Lyon takes place in Trance, on Thursday 10 April, before the return leg takes place seven days later at Old Trafford.
Lyon failed to beat United on four occasions in the Champions League, however, this will be the first meeting between the two clubs in the Europa League.
Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
Former Lyon goalkeeper reflects on Old Trafford visit in 2004
The build-up for United and Lyon’s Europa League quarter-final has already begun as former Lyon goalkeeper Nicolas Puydebois speaks out about facing the Reds at Old Trafford 11 years ago.
Puydebois stood in goal as Gregory Coupet’s replacement when the two teams drew 2-2 at the Stade de Gerland, with Ruud van Nistelrooy forcing a comeback by scoring a 5-minute brace in the second half.
However, speaking to Olympique Et Lyonnais, Puydebois has reflected on the second leg by sharing his experience from the second leg at Old Trafford.
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“The most impressive thing was in the tunnel before the match,” Puydebois said. “Next to me, there were guys (Van Nistelrooy, Giggs, Rooney) that I had watched playing in the Euros on TV three months before.”
It was undoubtedly a bit moment in Puydebois’ career even though Lyon were unable to get the result they wanted on the night.
Puydebois has remorse over Manchester United defeat
The second leg between United and Lyon in 2004 was Sir Alex Ferguson’s 1,000th game in charge at Old Trafford.
Gary Neville opened the scoring with a rare goal after 18 minutes but goalkeeper Roy Carroll gifted Lyon an equaliser before half-time when struggled with Mahamadou Diarra’s shot from 30-yards.
United sealed the win in the second half when Van Nisteloory found the back of the net with a header from close range.
Reflecting on the game itself, Puydebois admits he still has remorse over Neville’s opening goal and feels he should’ve done better.
“I have some remorse,” he added. “I tell myself that if I had played more freely, I could have done better on the first goal.”
The former Lyon shot-stopper still reflects positively on the occasion, despite not getting the result the French side wanted over the two legs.
“It remains an incredible moment, we had a crazy team, it was great.”