Amorim speaks on Onana-Matic dispute

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has stepped in to clarify the recent public clash between first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana and Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic.

Andre Onana had stirred tensions by suggesting that Manchester United were far superior to Lyon, prompting Matic to label him as “one of the worst goalkeepers” in the team’s history.

In response, Onana fired back at Matic, pointing out that he had won a trophy at Old Trafford, a feat that Matic had not achieved. Amorim, seeking to defuse the situation, stated that the goalkeeper’s words had been misinterpreted, stressing that his comments had been taken out of context.

According to the Portuguese coach, he intended to bolster his team’s confidence ahead of the Europa League quarter-final clash between United and Lyon, rather than to show any disrespect towards their opponents.

Addressing the controversy, he explained: “It’s really difficult to deal with this kind of situation. If you look at all of the quotes, there’s no disrespect, only an attempt to show confidence and belief in his team. That’s what matters, especially this year.”

Amorim, who has a close relationship with Matic from their time at Benfica, added that misunderstandings often arise from hearing only part of a statement. “I know Matic well, and he’s a great guy. Sometimes, you hear things out of context, and that’s clearly the case here,” he remarked.

“Tomorrow’s match will not be affected by this. It will be a normal game,” he concluded, looking ahead to the upcoming Europa League fixture at Groupama Stadium.