Paul Scholes sensationally jumped to the defence of Andre Onana during United’s win over Lyon to make the Europa League semis following Nemanja Matic’s sharp criticism of the custodian.
Manchester United‘s dramatic extra-time comeback against Lyon wasn’t just filled with late goals and wild celebrations—it also featured a heated subplot involving two former Red Devils.
Before kick-off at Old Trafford, club legend Paul Scholes revealed he had a word with Lyon’s Nemanja Matic, following the Serbian midfielder’s recent brutal comments aimed at United’s goalkeeper, Andre Onana.
“I just told him to leave our goalkeeper alone… but no that was it,” Scholes told TNT Sports, recalling his brief chat with Matic.
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Matic, who played alongside Onana at United, had sparked controversy ahead of the second leg by suggesting the Cameroonian shot-stopper might be “one of the worst goalkeepers in the club’s history.” The comment drew sharp reactions online and seemingly set the stage for a tense evening in Manchester.
Scholes, who had a chat with Matic before the game, spoke of their interaction warmly but firmly:
“He was some player, Matic. He looks well. I played against him quite a few times, me and Rio. He was just saying he’s nearly 37, he’s got another year left. He looks fit, he looks strong, but hopefully he doesn’t have a good night tonight.”
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Onana has last laugh
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‘Leave Our Goalkeeper Alone’ – United Legend Scholes Steps In After Matic’s Brutal Dig at Onana
While United’s 4-3 win on the night (7-6 on aggregate) will be remembered for Harry Maguire’s towering header and Casemiro’s match-winning influence, Onana’s emotional reaction spoke volumes.
After the final whistle, the goalkeeper charged out of his penalty area—not towards the fans, but straight to manager Ruben Amorim. Onana lifted his head coach into the air in a heartfelt embrace before making his way back to his goal, stopping only for a jubilant hug from backup keeper Altay Bayindir.
It was a statement of gratitude as much as relief. Onana had endured heavy scrutiny after costly mistakes in the first leg, and was benched for United’s previous outing against Newcastle. Amorim, however, stood by his man and reinstated him for the decisive second leg.
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“Built with ONANA MENTALITY,” the goalkeeper later posted on X, accompanied by a red circle emoji and a clenched fist.
Despite conceding four goals on the night, Onana was not culpable for any and stood tall during key phases of the match.
The scenes at full-time captured just how much it meant. While Maguire soaked in the crowd’s roar and Casemiro was hailed as the match’s hero, Onana celebrated like a man who had silenced more than one critic.
