Update: |Andre Onana vs Nemanja Matic war of words in full as Man United star responds to ‘worst’ jibe News

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana and Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic have engaged in a war of words before Thursday night’s Europa League quarter-final showdown.

Manchester United travel to Lyon on Thursday night to begin their Europa League quarter-final tie – one that has now taken an eye-catching twist with an element of bad blood thrown in.

Ruben Amorim will meet fellow Portuguese coach, Paulo Fonseca, on the touchline as their teams do battle for a place in the Europa League’s last-four. For both, a route through the competition appears to be their best chance of rubber-stamping qualification for the Champions League next term.

It’s a game that looked to be no more than a typical English vs French bout – as has often been showcased in UEFA competition – yet now a personal rivalry between United goalkeeper Andre Onana and the club’s former midfielder Nemanja Matic – now with form allegiance to Lyon – has created additional, tasty edge.

Here, we delve a little deeper into that surprise spat;

Post-Manchester derby – Onana speaks first

United had just played out a drab goalless draw in the 196th Manchester derby. For a goalkeeper like Onana, he’s always going to take a clean sheet as a positive. So in good spirits looking ahead to Thursday’s game in France, he gave his honest thoughts on the challenge that Lyon present.

“It’s a very good team. We know some of them, but I don’t think we have to focus on them.

“It’s more about us, what we’re going to do,” the 29-year-old explained.

“I think we are better than them, we just have to go there and show who we are. If we go there with a winning mentality and we are focused, stay compact and together and we follow the game plan we will be winning the game. Of course, it’s not going to be easy, but I think we are way better than them,” he exclaimed.

This is the comment that was taken most as a mockery by the French outfit.

Onana concluded: “We all know the importance of this game, so 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.”

Wednesday press conference – Matic responds

After Onana’s statement filtered through to the opposition, Matic was given the opportunity to offer his opinion when speaking at Lyon’s Europa League press conference at Wednesday lunchtime.

“I don’t know – you know, to say that you need to have cover for something like that.” Looking at the reporter he clarified who it was they were talking about: “Onana?

“You know, I respect everyone, but to say that then you need to give the answer.

“If you are one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United’s history, you need to take care of what you are talking.

“If David De Gea or Peter Schmeichel or [Edwin] van der Sar said that, then I would question myself. But if you’re one of the statistically worst goalkeepers in Man United’s modern history, then he needs to show that before he says. We will see.”

Even if a personal rivalry was brewing ahead of the clash, the 36-year-old Serbia midfielder would appear to bear no grudges towards the club he turned out for 189 times over a five-year spell.

“It’s difficult to know what’s going to happen,” he continued, before then adding on Amorim: “I’m sure that he has the capacity to do that. He needs time.

“In football today people don’t have time, but I’m sure he’s the right profile.

“He’s a young coach, with lots of energy. He needs support and it’s not easy.”

Onana hits back on social media

Around two hours after Matic addressed the media, Onana took to social media platform X (was Twitter) – and made a secondary statement on the matter.

“I would never be disrespectful to another club. We know that tomorrow will be a difficult game against a strong opponent. We focus on preparing a performance to make our fans proud,” he said.

Although, he was also unable to let such scathing criticism slide and, without naming the club’s former midfielder, he added: “At least I’ve lifted trophies with the greatest club in the world. Some can’t say the same.”

During the 2017 to 2022 timeframe in which Matic was a player at Old Trafford, the club failed to add to their trophy cabinet in what was truly a bleak period for all concerned. They have still not been able to return to the heights of old, but did manage to grab the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in back-to-back seasons under Erik ten Hag, both after Matic departed.

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