Andre Onana responded to Nemanja Matic’s astonishingly brutal comment that he is the “one of the world goalkeepers in Manchester United history” by reminding the midfielder that he did not win any trophies during his time at Old Trafford.
An extraordinary build-up to Thursday’s Europa League tie continued as Onana took to social media and posted a picture of him holding the FA Cup at Wembley with United last season, adding “some can’t say the same”.
Onana raised eyebrows earlier this week when he said United are “way better” than Europa League opponents Lyon, prompting former Old Trafford player Matic to deliver a brutal assessment of the goalkeeper.
Lyon midfielder Matic, who played for Manchester United between 2017 and 2022, said Onana had to earn the right to make such a claim and said “when you are one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United history, you need to take care what you’re talking [about].”
Onana responded to Matic’s comments on Twitter/X, pointing out that while he won last year’s FA Cup at Wembley by beating Manchester City, Matic did not win a trophy in his five years at Old Trafford.
The Cameroon international said he did not want to be “disrespectful” to another club but that did not stop the goalkeeper from adding fire to the flames ahead of Thursday’s match.
“I would never be disrespectful to another club,” Onana 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. At least I’ve lifted trophies with the greatest club in the world. Some can’t say the same.”
United travel to France on Thursday for the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final and Onana’s contentious remarks clearly did not go unnoticed at Lyon, who are fifth in the Ligue 1 standings compared to United’s 13th position in the Premier League.
Lyon midfielder Matic was not impressed and told the goalkeeper that he should be more focused on his own performances before delivering such an assessment.
“To say that, you need to have cover for something like that,” Matic told a press conference ahead of facing his former team. “I respect everyone but to say that… you need to give an answer.
“When you are one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United history, you need to take care what you’re talking [about].
“If David de Gea or Peter Schmeichel or Edwin van der Sar said that then I would question myself.
“But if you are, statistically, one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United history then he needs to show that before he says. We will see.”
