Andre Onana has added to the pressure when Manchester United face Lyon in the Europa League.
Manchester United are set to travel to France to face Lyon for the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals, with the team ‘all-in’ on success in the competition.
Amid a disastrous domestic campaign, the Europa League is the only reason Manchester United’s season is still alive, with the competition offering silverware, respectability, and an unlikely route into the Champions League next season.
United’s record in the Europa League has been impressive, unbeaten in the competition, and the team are hoping to continue this with the first leg in France.
Andre Onana is confident, a bit too openly so. He made comments after the 0-0 derby draw with City expressing his belief United are better than Lyon.
The confidence is admirable at least, but these comments might not have been the wisest: “I think we’re better than them, we just have to go there and show who we are.
“If we go there with a winning mentality, if we’re focused, if we stay compact and united and if we follow the game plan, we’ll win the match.”
Andre Onana comments can help Lyon out
Andre Onana’s words may have been better left unsaid. They have been picked up across the Channel, and have been noted in France.
Multiple French outlets have noted Onana’s words and are in agreement they add extra motivation for the Lyon side.
Supporter outlet Olympique-et-Lyonnnais.com wrote: “If Paulo Fonseca’s men still lacked a little motivation, Andre Onana served them on a plate.”
Made In Foot wrote of Onana’s comments: “Statements that could well become a motivational force for Fonseca’s men, determined to prove the Manchester goalkeeper wrong.”
Footmercato wrote simply: “This statement provides additional motivation for Lyon,”
And SoFoot added a little dig at the Red Devils: “Stuck in a dismal thirteenth place in the Premier League, Manchester United would do well to turn their goalkeeper’s words into action
Andre Onana adds pressure on Manchester United
Manchester United’s run in European competition has been the low-key success story of the 2024/25 season.
Now we are in crunch time, with every game mattering, with higher stakes each and every time.
Lyon are in strong form domestically, fifth in Ligue 1, and if there was an advantage for Manchester United, it was that perhaps they may under-estimate the strength of the Red Devils based on the team’s Premier League form.
This is less likely now, and Andre Onana will have to make sure his own performances are at an error-free high level, because otherwise he will be garnering more headlines for the wrong reasons.
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