The touchpaper has been lit ahead of Lyon’s Europa League quarter-final first-leg clash against Manchester United at the Groupama Stadium on Thursday night, with a war of words breaking out between Nemanja Matic and Andre Onana. Matic, who played 189 games for United across five seasons (2017-22) was angered by comments attributed to United’s Cameroon-born goalkeeper. He went on to call him ‘one of the worst goalkeepers’ in Manchester United’s history.
What Onana actually said was this: “It’s a very good team. We know some of them but I don’t think we have to focus on them. It’s more about us, what we’re going to do.
“I think we are better than them, we just have to go there and show who we are. Of course, it’s not going to be easy, but I think we are way better than them.”
“Sometimes, it’s just a misunderstanding and I know Matic also.” – Ruben Amorim
The last part irked Matic. “If David de Gea, Peter Schmeichel or Edwin van der Sar said that, I would question myself,” said the Serbian defensive midfielder, who won two EPL titles with Chelsea earlier in his career. “But if, statistically, you are one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s modern history, he needs to show that before he says.”
Onana reacted with a social media post that said: “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.”
Ruben Amorin, United’s coach, was once Matic’s teammate at Benfica. “Tomorrow, it will not matter,” he said, trying to defuse the situation. “If you see the full quote of Andre Onana, it’s quite different.
“Sometimes, it’s just a misunderstanding and I know Matic also. He’s a great guy. It is going to be a normal game.”
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