The pre-match row between Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana and Olympique Lyonnais’ veteran Nemanja quickly escalated.
The two sides are preparing to clash heads in the first leg of the Europa League Round of 16. The contest will take place at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday night.
But while both sets of fans are excited about the contest, which will have big implications on the two clubs’ campaigns, the action has already begun in the press room, with tensions flaring on both ends.
It all started earlier in the week, with Onana somewhat dismissing Lyon’s quality by insisting that his team is ‘way better’ than their French opposition.
The Cameroonian’s not-so-diplomatic stance sparked a media storm in France, and has certainly hit a nerve at Lyon’s camp, as illustrated by the brusque response he received from Nemanja Matic.
Nemanja Matic Left journalists stunned with jaw-dropping Onana dig
The former Chelsea and Man Utd star took it upon himself to defend his current team’s pride with a low blow to Onana, describing him as one of the worst goalkeepers in United’s history.
For her part, Sky Sports correspondent Melissa Reddy was present at Matic’s astonishing presser, and described the surreal atmosphere she witnessed.
“It is a rare occurrence to be sat in a press conference, and be completely stunned – eyes as wide as the room itself, only competing with the stretch of your mouth and a long-held breath,” explained the journalist.
“When Nemanja Matic began his response to Andre Onana’s assertion that Manchester United are ‘way better’ than Lyon, it had a feel of Eminem’s ‘he didn’t just say what I think he did, did he?’
The expectation was that the midfielder would simply say ‘We want to prove him wrong on the pitch’. Instead, Matic pulled a page out of Jose Mourinho’s playbook in an answer his former manager would afford a standing ovation.”
Onana then responded to the Serbian’s savage dig with a post on social media, noting that he has at least ‘won trophies’ at Old Trafford.
Media skirmishes aside, the Red Army will be hoping that the 28-year-old would center his focus on the pitch and avoid committing some of the needless blunders that have been synanymous with his Old Trafford stint.
