Manchester United’s Europa League quarter-final clash with Lyon promises to be a thrilling spectacle, as both teams are gearing up for two high-stakes matches. The tension has been ramped up following a fiery war of words between United goalkeeper Andre Onana and Lyon’s Nemanja Matic. The two had a heated exchange just a day before the big match, adding extra drama to what was already an intense encounter.
United is still unbeaten in the Europa League this season, despite struggling domestically in the Premier League. Their previous round saw a dominant 5-2 aggregate victory over Real Sociedad, with Bruno Fernandes delivering a stunning hat-trick in the second leg. While a top-four finish in the Premier League seems unlikely, winning the Europa League could be their ticket to securing a Champions League spot next season.
However, Lyon is a formidable opponent, having impressed in their last-16 clash against FCSB, winning 7-1 on aggregate. With Lyon sitting fifth in Ligue 1 and in the midst of a renaissance, they are eager to secure European glory alongside a potential second-place finish in France.
Former Premier League Players and the Onana-Matic Feud
The Europa League encounter will feature several familiar faces for Manchester United fans, as Lyon is home to many former Premier League players. Among them is Nemanja Matic, a former United midfielder who played 189 matches for the club. Despite his contributions, Matic never lifted a trophy during his five seasons at Old Trafford, something that Onana took aim at in a recent exchange.
The spat began when Matic reacted to Onana’s comments about Lyon being the inferior side. In a pre-match press conference, Matic fired back at Onana, saying: “When you are one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United history, you need to take care what you’re talking about.”
Onana quickly hit back, saying, “I would never be disrespectful to another club. We know tomorrow will be a difficult game against a strong opponent. But at least I’ve lifted trophies with the greatest club in the world. Some can’t say the same.”
With such tensions rising, the upcoming Europa League matches between Manchester United and Lyon are set to be a captivating and fiery affair.
