Manchester United plays Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday and Nemanja Matic has certainly stirred things up before facing his former club, taking aim at Andre Onana, the current Old Trafford number one.
“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,” Matic said after Onana claimed his side was “much better” than Lyon.
“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’s response? “At least I’ve lifted trophies with the greatest club in the world. Some can’t say the same.”
One way or another, it promises to be a tasty clash. In the UK, fans can watch it on TNT Sports 1 and Discovery Plus, as well as on the channel’s app for live streaming. In the US, the game will be shown on Paramount Plus.
Lyon suffered a big blow as talented attacker Ernest Nuamah suffered an ACL injury over the weekend. It will also be without promising winger Malick Fofana through injury but Rayan Cherki is one to watch. The French U21 midfielder has often been linked with a move to the Premier League with the likes of Liverpool.
Manchester United has a lengthier injury list with Ayden Heaven, Amad Diallo, Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans and Lisandro Martinez missing. Matthijs de Ligt and Kobbie Mainoo are doubts, with the latter in the matchday squad but only just having returned to action.
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“In this moment, we have to be careful with Kobbie,” Amorim said. “He had some weeks out, so we have to be careful with his fitness. We are really happy to have more options and an option like Kobbie Mainoo, with the quality that he has.
“He can play in different positions — he has already played as a six, as an eight, as a 10. So we are really pleased to have Kobbie Mainoo but we have to be careful, and we need Kobbie Mainoo fit and fresh.”
Amorim also addressed the beef between Onana and Matic. “Tomorrow it will not matter [what was said pre-match],” he said. “I think if you see the full quotes of Andre Onana, it’s quite different.
(Image: Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images)
“The first sentence is Lyon is a very good team. I think sometimes the players and the coaches don’t listen to the full quotes and sometimes it’s a misunderstanding. I know Matic also, and he’s a great guy. So tomorrow is going to be a normal game.
“If you look to all the quotes, you cannot see the disrespect there, just respect, but trying to show and give confidence to his team, especially in this year. Everyone can talk bad things about Manchester United.
“Sometimes our group, as players, as a coaching staff, has to show confidence in our team. So I think that’s all. Again, I know really well Nemanja Matic, and how good a guy he is. So he hears some things but half, not the whole story. That for me is clear in this situation.”
