Importance Score: 35 / 100 🔵
Matic Disparages Onana, Labeling Him Among Manchester United’s Worst Goalkeepers
Former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic has delivered a scathing assessment of Andre Onana, branding him “one of the worst goalkeepers” in the club’s history. The current Lyon player, as he prepares to confront his former club United in the Europa League this Thursday, offered this candid evaluation of Onana during a pre-match press briefing.
Onana’s Performance Under Scrutiny
Onana’s acquisition from Inter Milan followed their impressive journey to the 2023 Champions League final, with an initial transfer fee of £43.8 million. However, his initial seasons at Old Trafford have yielded inconsistent results. The 29-year-old has featured in every Premier League fixture this season, achieving nine clean sheets, a figure surpassed only by Mats Selz (13) and David Raya (11).
Veteran Midfielder’s Critical Remarks
Matic was prompted to respond to Onana’s assertions that United are a superior team compared to their Ligue 1 adversaries. The seasoned Serbian international retorted, “Onana stated they are far better than us? When you are considered one of the least effective goalkeepers in Man United’s history, you should be mindful of your pronouncements.”
He further emphasized, “If such remarks originated from figures like [Edwin] Van der Sar, [Peter] Schmeichel, or [David] De Gea, they would carry weight. But coming from Onana, who is among the worst…”
Onana’s Bold Claim Ahead of Europa League Clash
Onana had confidently declared that Manchester United were “way better” than Lille, despite the team’s underwhelming season which sees them positioned 13th in the Premier League standings.
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“We all recognize the significance of this upcoming match, and we will approach it with a winning attitude,” Onana stated. “While this season hasn’t been our finest, we still have a significant opportunity for silverware, which we are determined to pursue.”
“They are a commendable team; we are familiar with some of their players, but I believe our focus should be internal. It’s about our performance and strategy. I believe we possess superior quality; we simply need to demonstrate it on the field.”
“If we maintain a winning mindset, remain focused and disciplined, and adhere to the game plan, victory is attainable. Naturally, it will be challenging, but I maintain that we are considerably better than they are.”
Matic’s Broader Critique of Manchester United’s Ambitions
Beyond his censure of the goalkeeper, Matic broadened his criticism to encompass Manchester United as a whole. He asserted that during his tenure at the club, spanning from 2017 to 2022, the primary focus was not consistently on securing trophies.
“The distinct contrast I observed from Chelsea was that at Chelsea, the emphasis was unequivocally on outcomes and trophy acquisition,” he reflected. “At United, a more commercially driven approach prevailed. This realization dawned on me within a couple of months of joining the club.”
“I comprehend the necessity of ensuring our salaries are disbursed; however, I perceived that results were not as paramount as they were at Chelsea. My commercial obligations were minimal at Chelsea, whereas at United, they were significantly more extensive.”
“I arrived at United with a hunger to replicate the trophy-winning success I experienced at Chelsea. However, gradually, I began to sense that trophies were not the central objective. Perhaps my perception is inaccurate, but that was my sincere impression.”