Nemanja Matic has said Andre Onana is “one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history” ahead of Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first leg.
Lyon midfielder Matic, who played for United between 2017 and 2022, was responding to Onana’s comments that the Premier League side were “way better” than the French side.
Onana had said that Lyon — fifth in Ligue 1 having won four of their last five league matches — would be underdogs for the tie, saying: “Of course it’s not going to be easy, but I think we are way better than them.”
When asked directly about the quote in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, 36-year-old Matic said: “You need to have cover to say something like that.
“Onana? You know, I respect everyone but to say that, you need to give the answer. If you are one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history, you need to take care about what you are talking about.
“If David de Gea, 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’s modern history, he needs to show that before he says it. So we will see.”
Onana, who joined United from Inter in 2023, has made 93 first-team appearances for the English side and won last season’s FA Cup.
The Cameroon international has conceded 41 goals in 31 Premier League games this season, the eighth most of goalkeepers in the division. The 29-year-old has also conceded ten goals in eight Europa League games this campaign, keeping just one clean sheet.
United play Lyon in France on Thursday, with the return leg at Old Trafford on April 17.
(Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)