Onana and Matic: A War of Words Before the Quarter-Final Clash

In the lead-up to the quarter-final first leg, Manchester United’s goalkeeper Andre Onana confidently asserted that his team was “way better” than their French rivals.

“We all understand the significance of this match; we will approach it with a winning mentality,” Onana stated to reporters. “We must demonstrate our identity and execute our game plan effectively. Staying focused, compact, and united will lead us to victory. Although it will not be easy, I believe we have the upper hand.”

Nemanja Matic, a former United player who represented the club from 2017 to 2022, did not hesitate to respond to Onana’s remarks.

Before Onana faced criticism for his performance over two legs, Matic retorted that the ex-Inter Milan goalkeeper displayed a lack of respect and labeled him as one of the weakest goalkeepers in United’s history.

“I find it perplexing. To make such statements requires a certain degree of audacity,” Matic replied. “I respect everyone, but it’s necessary to respond. If you’re statistically one of the least effective goalkeepers in Manchester United’s recent history, you should be cautious with your words. If legends like David de Gea, Peter Schmeichel, or Edwin van der Sar had made such comments, I might reconsider my stance. However, given Onana’s track record, he should demonstrate his capabilities before making claims. We will see how it unfolds.”

Shortly thereafter, Onana fired back, highlighting his trophy win compared to Matic’s lack of accolades during his tenure at United.

He wrote on X: “I would never disrespect another club. We know tomorrow will be a challenging game against a formidable opponent. Our focus is on delivering a performance that makes our fans proud. At least I have lifted trophies with the greatest club in the world. Some cannot say the same.”

In a thrilling two-legged encounter, Manchester United advanced with a 7-6 aggregate victory after the second match went into extra time. Despite Onana’s mistakes, they managed to progress before ultimately falling to Tottenham in the final. Time has allowed Matic to soften his earlier criticism of Onana, now describing him as a “great” keeper and “not a bad guy.”

“I made my comments before the match largely due to his perceived arrogance,” the Sassuolo player explained to FourFourTwo. “He stated, ‘We’re way better than Lyon,’ which I felt was inappropriate for a quarter-final in the Europa League. My intention was to apply pressure on him, and he made an error as a result. I’m unsure if our second goal was solely his mistake or a partial one. He is undoubtedly a talented goalkeeper – he performed well at Ajax and Inter. While he could have excelled at United, the circumstances at the club placed immense pressure on him. However, upon reflection, I don’t believe he is a bad individual.”

Both Onana and Matic are currently with different clubs, with Onana on loan at Trabzonspor and Matic competing in Serie A. Now that tensions have eased, it appears Matic has emerged victorious in this exchange of words, although he seems eager to move forward.