Manchester United are set to face Lyon in a high-stakes Europa League quarterfinal clash on Wednesday, April 9, and tensions are already flaring ahead of the game. The latest spark came from former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic, who has openly criticized current United goalkeeper Andre Onana, labeling him as "one of the worst goalkeepers in the club's history."
The war of words was triggered after Onana, speaking ahead of the tie, dismissed Lyon’s chances by stating that Manchester United were simply the better team. Matic, who now plays for Lyon, did not take those comments lightly. In the pre-match press conference, he responded with pointed remarks aimed directly at Onana’s standing at the club.
“I respect everyone, but if you say that, then you need to get the answer,” Matic said. “If you are one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history, you need to be careful with what you're talking about. If David de Gea, Peter Schmeichel, or van der Sar said that, then I would question myself. But if you are one of the statistically worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s modern history, then you need to show that before you say something like that. So we will see.”
Onana’s spell at Manchester United, since his move from Inter Milan in 2023, has been under constant scrutiny. While he arrived with high expectations, replacing long-serving goalkeeper David de Gea, Onana’s performances have drawn criticism from fans and pundits alike. His errors in key matches, especially early in the season, led to calls for his benching, and his command in the box has often been questioned in comparison to his illustrious predecessors.
Manchester United, meanwhile, have looked sharp in recent European outings. They secured their quarterfinal spot after a convincing 5–2 aggregate win over Real Sociedad, with Bruno Fernandes delivering a standout performance, including a hat-trick in the second leg. That win has raised hopes among the United faithful that the team can make a deep run in the competition.
As the match against Lyon draws closer, all eyes will be on both Matic and Onana—not just for their performances on the pitch, but also to see how this verbal battle plays out under the spotlight of European football.
