Andre Onana has truly been branded “one of the worst goalkeepers in the history of Manchester United” by Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic as a battle of phrases emerged previous to their Europa League quarter-final.
The United No 1 had truly forecasted his group will surely advance to the semi-finals attributable to the truth that they had been “way better” than their French equivalents.
But Onana’s statements following Sunday’s 0-0 draw against Manchester City activated a pungent riposte from Matic, the earlier United gamer.
Asked regarding Onana’s remarks at an interview on Wednesday to sneak peek the preliminary leg of the quarter-final on the Groupama Stadium, Matic, that signed up with Lyon final summer time season, acknowledged, blowing out his cheeks: “Onana? You know, I respect everybody however to say that then that you must give the reply.
“If you’re one of many worst goalkeepers in Man United’s historical past, that you must maintain what you’re speaking [about].
“If David de Gea or Peter Schmeichel or [Edwin] van der Sar mentioned that, then I might query 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.”
‘I’ ve raised prizes with United’
The row after that intensified when Onana countered at Matic on social networks and ridiculed the Serbian over his failing to win a prize atUnited Matic, that was given Old Trafford by Jose Mourinho, in the summertime season of 2017, was a ruined FA Cup and Europa League finalist with United in 2018 and 2021 particularly.
“I would never be disrespectful to another club,” acknowledged Onana, that gained the FA Cup with United final interval.
“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.”
The squabble has truly elevated the dangers prematurely of the connection, with the Europa League correctly standing for United’s final chance of getting the Champions League this era. United are coping with a potential ₤ 100m blackhole of their funds in the event that they lose out.
Onana signed up with United from Inter Milan in the summertime season of 2023 for ₤ 47.2 million as an alternative to De Gea, that was Matic’s team-mate at Old Trafford for five years.
The Cameroonian sustained a irritating start to his launching interval at United, with a set of high-profile errors including to the group’s removing on the finish of the Champions League group phases.
Onana revealed indicators of enhancement all through the 2nd fifty % of the mission but his type has truly dipped as soon as once more this time period.
He has truly likewise handled grievances in present weeks from United followers over the speed of his circulation.
‘Amorim is the right profile’
Matic had some kinder phrases for the United head coach Ruben Amorim, with whom he dipped into Benfica in between 2011 and 2014, and thinks he can deliver again success on the Manchester membership.
“It’s difficult to know what’s going to happen. I’m sure that he has the capacity to do that. He needs time,” Matic acknowledged. “In soccer at present folks don’t have time however I’m positive he’s the appropriate profile. He’s a younger coach, with a number of power. He wants assist.
“It’s not simple. In another leagues, possibly he may have a neater job, however within the Premier League if you’re not 100 per cent prepared, for those who don’t have an excellent group, the opposite groups punish you.
“It’s so tough to win the video games within the Premier League as a result of at present each group has high quality, a whole lot of good gamers. They all have good coaches, so it’s arduous.
“It’s hard in the Premier League if the things are not right. It’s so difficult to turn things [around] in a short period, but step by step I believe that he can do very good. But I hope that he will not start tomorrow!”
Lyon, which might be fifth in Ligue 1, have truly shed merely amongst their earlier 7 fits. United’s 0-0 draw versus City left them struggling at thirteenth within the desk.
Kobbie Mainoo can embody within the preliminary leg in France after the England midfielder educated with the primary string on Wednesday early morning.
The 19-year-old has truly not guess 2 months because of harm. Matthijs de Ligt has truly not taken a visit but fellow protector Luke Shaw has truly been consisted of.
The 3 worst goalkeepers in United’s background
Massimo Taibi (1999-2000)
Signed as emergency scenario back-up for Fabian Barthez from Venezia for ₤ 4.5 m heading in the right direction date day in August 1999, the Italian yielded 11 targets in his 4 appears to be like for the membership, consisting of permitting a tame shot from Matt Le Tissier wriggle through his legs. His final online game was a 5-0 loss toChelsea He correctly value United larger than ₤ 1 million per online game. One of Sir Alex Ferguson’s worst ever earlier than finalizings.
Victor Valdes (2014-2016)
The Catalan may need gained 3 Champions Leagues with Barcelona but his 18-month spell at Old Trafford was an extensively disagreeable expertise. He made merely 2 appears to be like for Louis van Gaal previous to being switch famous after the Dutchman asserted the goalkeeper rejected to play in a get online game and was consequently not supplied a group quantity for the upcoming interval. Once a relocate to Besiktas after that failed, Valdes invested the next 6 months froze out previous to signing up with Standard Liege in a finance discount that wound up being interrupted. His Old Trafford headache in the end completed in July 2016 when he signed up with Middlesbrough on a complimentary.
Mark Bosnich (1999– 2001)
The Australian, that had truly gone to United in between 1989 and 1991 as a teenager, was re-signed by Ferguson on a complimentary switch in 1999 as an alternative to the terrificPeter Schmeichel He will surely win the Premier League title in his preliminary interval but by no means ever persuaded Ferguson, that wound up passing theNo 1 space round in between Bosnich, Raimond van der Gouw and the beforehand talked aboutTaibi The complying with summer time season United licensed Fabian Barthez and Bosnich rapidly positioned himself delegated to third possibility.
Paul Scholes in a while categorised Bosnich as his worst ever earlier than United group. “He came to us and was so unprofessional. Honestly, it was ridiculous,” the earlier United midfielder acknowledged. “In shooting practice, you normally have like 15-20 minutes, after three shots he was knackered. And I never realised, he couldn’t kick a football! Honestly, I’d never seen anything like it.”
In his 2013 memoir, Ferguson branded Bosnich a“terrible professional” Bosnich reacted, claiming, “The fact remains that I was the only player he signed twice at Manchester United. I’m honoured to be mentioned. He’s entitled to his view and I’m entitled to mine.”
