Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana and ex-midfielder Nemanja Matic have traded savage blows ahead of the Red Devils’ Europa League clash with Lyon on Thursday.
Nemanja Matic left Old Trafford in 2022 after 128 appearances and is preparing to face his old club for the first time since his departure.
Lyon will host Manchester United on Thursday night in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final, which is both teams’ only realistic chance of silverware this season.
Andre Onana claimed after Sunday’s Manchester derby that United were “way better” than Lyon.
“Of course, it’s not going to be easy, but I think we are way better than them. We all know the importance of this game, we will go there with the winning mentality, it’s not our best season but we still have something to win and we will go for it.”
That prompted a brutal reply from the ex-United man Matic.
Nemanja Matic blasts Andre Onana
Asked about Onana’s bold comment, Matic retorted: “If you’re one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history then you need to take care of what you are talking about.
“If David De Gea, Peter Schmeichel or Edwin van der Sar said that I would question myself but if you are statistically one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s modern history, he needs to show that before he says it.”
Onana has kept nine clean sheets in the Premier League this season, the joint-third most in the competition, but has come under fire for some high-profile mistakes.
He has made three errors leading to goals, again the third-most of the league’s keepers. Mistakes against Nottingham Forest, Ipswich, and Brighton sparked particular frustration.
Onana responds to Matic with trophy jab
Later on Wednesday afternoon, Onana took to X to respond to Matic’s criticism with a post that started of conciliatory but took something of a turn.
“I would never be disrespectful to another club,” the goalkeeper posted. “We know that tomorrow will be a difficult game against a strong opponent.
“We focus on preparing a performance to make our fans proud.”
However, he couldn’t resist trying to get the last word, adding: “At least I’ve lifted trophies with the greatest club in the world. Some can’t say the same.” Below was an image of him kissing the FA Cup, which United won last May.
Matic never won any silverware in his five seasons with United, though he won the Premier League twice in his earlier spell at Chelsea as well as the League Cup and FA Cup.
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