Nemanja Matic Reflects on Feud with Andre Onana: A Tale of Arrogance and Redemption
Former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic delves into his past feud with goalkeeper Andre Onana, shedding light on their intense rivalry and eventual reconciliation. Discover the behind-the-scenes drama that unfolded during the Europa League quarter-final clash between Lyon and United, ultimately leading to a newfound respect between the two players.

Former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic has opened up on his feud with Andre Onana after infamously calling the Cameroonian one of the Red Devils' "worst-ever goalkeepers". The two traded barbs in the lead-up to United's Europa League quarter-final clash with Lyon last season, before the Premier League side won a dramatic knockout tie. Now, the ex-Chelsea ace has revisited that thorny issue.In the build-up to that quarter-final first leg, Onana said United were "way better" than their French opponents. "We all know the importance of this game, we will go there with the winning mentality," he told reporters. "We have to go there and show who we are. If we are focused, stay compact and together and follow the gameplan we will be winning the game. Of course, it’s not going to be easy, but I think we are way better than them."Matic, who played at Old Trafford between 2017-22, didn't hold back in response to Onana's comments.Before Onana made a number of mistakes across both legs, Serbian international Matic retorted that the ex-Inter Milan ace lacked respect and that he was one of the worst stoppers to don a United shirt. "I don't know. To say something like that, you need to have courage," Matic replied. "I respect everyone, but I need to answer. When you're one of the worst goalkeepers in Man Utd's history, you need to take care about what you are talking. If David de Gea, Peter Schmeichel or Van der Sar said that, I will question myself. But if you are statistically one of the worst goalkeepers in Man Utd's modern history, then he needs to show that, before he says so. We will see."Not long after, former Ajax star Onana responded again, this time pointing out that he had won one trophy to Matic's zero at United. He wrote on X: "I would never be disrespectful to another club. 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."In a dramatic two-legged tie, that ended in a 7-6 United aggregate win after the second fixture went to extra time, Onana's mistakes didn't quite come back to haunt his team. In the end, the Red Devils squeaked through before losing to Tottenham in the final. Fast forward to the present, and the Serb has softened his stance towards Onana. He even called him a "great" keeper who is "not a bad guy"."I said what I said before the game, just because he was a bit arrogant," the Sassuolo player told FourFourTwo. "He said, ‘We’re way better than Lyon.’ I don’t think you say that before a quarter-final in the Europa League. I wanted to put more pressure on him with my answer, and he made that mistake. I don’t know if our second goal was his mistake or a half-mistake. He’s a great goalkeeper – he had a good couple of years at Ajax, and at Inter. He could have done better at United, but in the circumstances at the club, there was too much pressure on him. If you ask me now though, I don’t think he’s a bad guy."Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingBoth Onana and Matic are at different teams now, with the former on loan at Trabzonspor, and the latter playing in Serie A. Now that the dust has settled, Matic may have won this war of words, even if he is keen to let bygones be bygones.
The Build-Up to the Europa League Quarter-Final Clash
In the lead-up to the high-stakes encounter between Manchester United and Lyon, tensions ran high as Nemanja Matic and Andre Onana engaged in a war of words. Onana's bold statements about United's superiority sparked a fiery response from Matic, who didn't shy away from criticizing the Cameroonian goalkeeper for his perceived arrogance and lack of respect.
The Heated Exchange of Comments
Matic's blunt assessment of Onana as one of United's 'worst-ever goalkeepers' set the stage for a public spat that gripped football fans worldwide. Onana, unyielding in his retorts, highlighted his trophy success compared to Matic's tenure at United, intensifying the rivalry between the two players beyond the confines of the pitch.
The Dramatic Europa League Showdown
As the Europa League quarter-final unfolded in a thrilling battle of wits and skills, the on-field performance of both players became crucial. Onana's errors during the match added further fuel to the flames of their rivalry, culminating in a narrow victory for Manchester United despite the Cameroonian's valiant efforts.
A New Chapter of Understanding and Forgiveness
With time and reflection, Nemanja Matic has softened his stance towards Andre Onana, acknowledging his talent and character. The Serb's recent praise of Onana as a 'great' goalkeeper signals a shift in their relationship, transcending past disagreements and embracing mutual respect. As both players have moved on to new teams, the animosity of the past gives way to a sense of closure and maturity.









