Over the past week we’ve seen a back and forth between Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana and former United midfielder Nemanja Matic. Onana claimed that that United were “way better” than Lyon, our Thursday night Europa League opponents, although did also acknowledge they were a good team. Matic bit back, making it personal, by claiming at Onana was the worst goalkeeper United had ever had. It didn’t end there though, with Onana then going to social media to make a subtle dig about the fact he won a trophy in his first season at United, while Matic didn’t win a thing during his five years.
Speaking to the press ahead of the Lyon game, Ruben Amorim played down the spat and claimed it was a case of crossed wires.
Tomorrow it will not matter [what was said pre-match]. I think if you see the full quotes of Andre Onana, it’s quite different. The first sentence is Lyon is a very good team. I think sometimes the players and the coaches don’t listen to the full quotes and sometimes it’s a misunderstanding. I know Matic also, and he’s a great guy. So tomorrow is going to be a normal game.
If you look to all the quotes, you cannot see the disrespect there, just respect, but trying to show and give confidence to his team, especially in this year. Everyone can talk bad things about Manchester United. Sometimes our group, as players, as a coaching staff, has to show confidence in our team. So I think that’s all. Again, I know really well Nemanja Matic, and how good a guy he is. So he hears some things but half, not the whole story. That for me is clear in this situation.
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