Andre Onana has responded strongly after Nemanja Matic labelled him “one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history”, drawing attention to the Serbian midfielder’s lack of silverware during his time at Old Trafford ahead of their Europa League face-off on Thursday.
Ruben Amorim’s underperforming United side is set to clash with the French outfit in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday.
Currently sitting 13th in the Premier League after a dismal season, United remains unbeaten in European competition.
Following the Manchester derby on Sunday, which ended in a 0-0 stalemate, Onana commented that challenging Lyon, who are fifth in Ligue 1, would be “not going to be easy, but I think we are way better than them.”
This confident statement was put to the typically reserved Matic on the eve of the first leg in France.
“You know, I respect everyone, but to say that, he needs to back it up,” remarked the Serbian, who had a stint at Chelsea during his Premier League career.
“If you are considered one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history, you need to be mindful of your words.”
“If David de Gea or Peter Schmeichel or (Edwin) van der Sar made that claim, then I would reconsider my standing.
“However, if you are statistically one of the worst goalkeepers in the modern era at United, you ought to prove it before making statements. We’ll see what happens.”
Onana later took to X to respond to Matic, who ended his time at United without a trophy, in contrast to the silverware he secured while at Chelsea.
“I would never be disrespectful towards another club. We understand tomorrow will be a challenging match against a strong opponent,” stated the Cameroon international.
“We are concentrating on delivering a performance that will make our fans proud.
“At least I’ve won trophies with the greatest club in the world. Some players cannot say the same.”
United invested approximately £47 million to acquire Onana from Inter Milan in 2023 as a successor to De Gea, and he claimed the FA Cup in his inaugural season.
He has kept nine clean sheets this season in the Premier League, with only two goalkeepers surpassing that record, showcasing his ability to pull off remarkable saves.
However, the 29-year-old’s tenure at United has not been without its challenges, having made several pivotal mistakes that have raised doubts about his reliability.
Despite his strong comments about Onana, Matic expressed that he “will always keep United in my heart” and remains hopeful the team can turn things around under his former Benfica teammate Amorim.
He appreciates the support he received from the United manager while settling in Portugal and believes he can thrive at Old Trafford with the right backing.
“In today’s football, there isn’t much time for development, but I’m confident he’s the right fit,” he noted. “He’s an energetic young coach who needs support.
“The Premier League is immensely challenging when things aren’t running smoothly. It’s tough to turn things around quickly, but I truly believe he can achieve great things step by step. However, I hope that starts after tomorrow.”
The disappointing 0-0 draw with City this past weekend has left United in a precarious 13th position in the Premier League, potentially facing their worst league finish in over 35 years.
The Europa League presents their sole chance to secure European football for the next season. Failing to clinch the trophy in Bilbao next month could have dire financial consequences for a club already facing economic struggles.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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