The tension is high as Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana and Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic have sparked a heated exchange just hours before their teams face off in the Europa League quarter-final first leg on Thursday night.
The verbal sparring has added an extra layer of intrigue to an already high-stakes encounter at Lyon’s Groupama Stadium, with both players taking shots at each other’s legacies.
The drama kicked off when Onana, speaking after Manchester United’s goalless draw against Manchester City on Sunday, claimed that his team is “way better” than their upcoming French opponents.
Despite United’s struggles in the Premier League, the Cameroonian goalkeeper exuded confidence, saying, “Of course, it’s not going to be easy, but I think we are way better than them.”
Reacting, Nemanja Matic, a former Manchester United midfielder who now plays for Lyon, held a pre-match press conference on Wednesday, April 9, and didn’t hold back when asked about Onana’s comments.
In a scathing response, he branded Onana “one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history,” adding, “If you’re one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history, then you need to take care of what you’re talking about.”
Matic, who spent five years at Old Trafford between 2017 and 2022, compared Onana unfavourably to United legends like David De Gea, Peter Schmeichel, and Edwin van der Sar, declaring that the Cameroonian lacks the credentials to make such bold claims.
Not one to back down, Onana took to social media shortly after Matic’s remarks to deliver a stinging rebuttal.
Posting a picture of himself kissing the FA Cup, won by Manchester United last season, he wrote, “I would never be disrespectful to another club. We know that tomorrow will be a difficult game against a strong opponent. We focus on preparing a performance to make our fans proud. At least I’ve lifted trophies with the greatest club in the world. Some can’t say the same.”
The jab appears to be a reference to Matic’s trophyless stint at Manchester United, despite the Serbian’s illustrious career, which includes two Premier League titles and an FA Cup with Chelsea.
