'They're afraid of us' - Rayan Cherki launches savage dig at Man Utd's approach against Lyon and sends message to Andre Onana after Europa League clash

Manchester United and Lyon played out a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Thursday which featured two mistakes from goalkeeper Andre Onana. The stopper had claimed before the game his team were "way better" than Lyon but those comments returned to haunt him after a nightmare display. Yet the Red Devils had looked set for victory after Joshua Zirkzee made it 2-1 in the 88th minute, only for Cherki to score a priceless equaliser in stoppage time to leave the tie in the balance ahead of the return.

Manchester United have struggled for goals this season but will now need to beat Lyon to progress on Thursday night. Ruben Amorim lined his team up with two defensive midfielders in France, in the form of Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro, and Cherki was not impressed with the Red Devils' set up and feels the visitors employed a negative approach.

As reported by RMC Sport, Cherki said: "We played a full game. We were much better than that team. We showed the full extent of our talent. We know Manchester is a good team. We were never afraid of them. We will never be afraid of them."

Cherki was then asked about Onana's pre-match comments and had a message for the stopper: "They got the answer themselves. When you come with two defensive midfielders, there's no need to say more. We'll go there to attack and not to defend like they did here.

"When you see that they come with two defensive midfielders, it's because they're particularly afraid of us. I hope they don't do the same thing there. We're going to go there to play offensively and to prove that we play very good football, with only one goal in mind: victory."

Both teams are in domestic action this weekend ahead of the return at Old Trafford on Thursday. Manchester United are away at Newcastle, while Lyon face a trip to Auxerre.