Watching Manchester United's comeback vs Lyon was emotional even from the press box

Forgive some of the soppy language, but Thursday night marked a first for this correspondent in that it was the first time I became remotely emotional in the press box.

Call it empathetic emotion. Not at Kobbie Mainoo's equaliser on the two-hour mark or Manchester United's most improbable comeback since Camp Nou in 1999. But at the joy etched on the young lad's face at United's recovery.

We had seen him earlier, on the verge of tears, imploring someone to provide deliverance when United were on the verge of sinking into the abyss.

As an adult, you entirely empathise with those contrasting emotions. We used to be that wide-eyed child for whom the world had ended if their team had suffered a shattering defeat.

He'll have had quite the night in M16. Just as well that the next day was Good Friday and the school was out.

That is what sport can do. On the drive home, speaking to my father, I mentioned that it was the first time United had won a game 5-4 since the Busby Babes' last match in England at Highbury on February 1, 1958. He reminded me that my grandad was in attendance for that. That struck an emotional chord.

That was the beauty of United's win. The emotion. Some colleagues were attempting to analyse the game afterwards in the press conference room. One was lamenting Patrick Dorgu's performance. Last night was not the night for such mundane musings.

Andy Gray, of all people, encapsulated the aura of Old Trafford more than 22 years ago, commentating on Diego Forlan's 93rd-minute winning volley against Chelsea: "Talk about a late, late show at Old Trafford. Don't leave this ground early. You might miss something." Hundreds still sought to avoid the traffic congestion on Thursday night.

United won by abandoning their