Ruben Amorim says he remains “really confident” in Andre Onana despite the under-fire goalkeeper’s mistakes costing Manchester United a Europa League quarter-final win at Lyon.
The spotlight was on a player described as “one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United’s history” ahead of Thursday’s first leg by Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic, who hit back after Onana said the Red Devils were “way better” than the French side.
The United shot-stopper received an intimidating reception at a rocking Groupama Stadium, where his error midway through the first half resulted in Thiago Almada’s free-kick finding the net.
United turned things around through Leny Yoro’s first goal for the club and substitute Joshua Zirkzee’s late header, only for Onana to be beaten by Rayan Cherki after spilling Georges Mikautadze’s stoppage-time strike as the match ended 2-2.
“It can happen,” Amorim said. “If you play football and you play a lot of games, you can make mistakes.
“If you look at the season, I make more mistakes than them during these last games and during these last months, so that can happen.
“The good thing is that we have one more game to change everything, so that should be our focus.”
Asked if the comments from former Red Devils player Matic – who was an unused substitute on Thursday – caused Onana to be a little distracted on a night of hostility, United’s head coach said: “I don’t know, that can happen.
“The best thing is to look at the goals and all the actions that Andre has had in the game, to talk with (goalkeeping coaches, Jorge) Vital and Craig (Mawson). This is the best way to help any player.
“It is to focus on the game, what happened, what we need to improve and then put the player (in) again.”
Amorim had not seen Onana before facing the media but said the dressing room was “really quiet”, adding that as “the team is suffering but we need to change that and have the opportunity to change that”.
Ruben reflects on the first leg 🗣️#MUFC || #UEL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 10, 2025
Pushed on what he will say to the United goalkeeper, Amorim said: “Nothing. We have training, go with Vital and we deal with that. I am really natural.
“That can happen with any player. We will try to help. There’s nothing I can say to Andre in this moment that would help him.
“So, the most important thing is to be natural and then, when the time comes, I will choose the best XI to play. But I’m really confident in Andre.”
Lyon boss Paulo Fonseca was proud of his players’ performance against the Premier League side and was surprised by talk of a war of words between Onana and Matic.
“It was not a war,” the Portuguese said. “These are normal situations in football. It was not a strategy by Nemanja Matic at all.
“I think that’s something normal. Of course we need to respect everyone’s opinion and I think Nemanja and Andre Onana forgot about this tonight, so everything is good now.”
Ruben Amorim vowed to go all out for Europa League glory after Manchester United progressed to the semi-finals with a show-stopping 5-4 extra-time win against 10-man Lyon.The Red Devils looked to have blown Thursday’s make-or-break quarter-final second leg at Old Trafford, where the visitors responded to Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot’s first-half efforts by scoring four without reply.C...
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca expressed concern at the “easy chances” his team are missing after they limped into the Conference League semi-final despite a second-leg defeat to Legia Warsaw at Stamford Bridge.The 2-1 loss to the team currently fifth in the Polish Ekstraklasa drew boos from supporters at full-time and was the second home game in a row in which fans had loudly voiced ...
Barry Ferguson claimed Rangers were denied two penalties in their 2-0 defeat by Athletic Bilbao that sent them crashing out of the Europa League.The Gers had battled hard last week to keep the first leg of the quarter-final tie at Ibrox goalless after the early dismissal of defender Robin Propper and were holding out in the San Mames stadium until added time in the first half when defender John So...
Ange Postecoglou declared he would be around “for a little bit longer” after Tottenham clinched a Europa League semi-final spot with a superb 1-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt.Spurs were back in the last-chance saloon and up against it at Deutsche Bank Park after a 1-1 draw in the first leg last Thursday, but produced one of their best displays under the Australian.Dominic Solanke’s...
Bradford manager Graham Alexander was left frustrated after they missed out on going top with a draw against Notts County.Ciaran Kelly headed the Bantams in front but they were denied a 13th win in 14 home games by David McGoldrick’s superb equaliser. The 1-1 draw leaves Bradford two points behind leaders Port Vale, who play on Friday.Alexander said: “We’ve gained a point but the...
Harry Maguire secured one of the most jaw-dropping European wins in Old Trafford’s long history as Manchester United came back to secure a scarcely believable 5-4 extra-time win against 10-man Lyon and reach the Europa League semi-finals.There was no room for error as the Red Devils’ 14th place in the Premier League standings meant a first European defeat of the campaign would end thei...
A 43rd-minute penalty from Dominic Solanke sent Tottenham through to the Europa League semi-finals with a 2-1 aggregate win over Eintracht Frankfurt to keep their season alive and ease the pressure on Ange Postecoglou.Spurs were back in the last-chance saloon and up against it at Deutsche Bank Park after a 1-1 draw in the first leg last Thursday, but produced one of their best displays under Poste...
Rangers’ commendable Europa League journey ended at the quarter-final stage following a 2-0 defeat by Athletic Bilbao in the San Mames stadium.Barry Ferguson’s side had battled hard last week to keep the first leg goalless after the early dismissal of defender Robin Propper and were stretched again in the first half before defender John Souttar conceded a penalty in added time which Oi...
Chelsea progressed to the last four of the Conference League but Enzo Maresca’s problems continued to mount as Legia Warsaw won 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in their quarter-final second leg to deepen supporters’ frustrations with the head coach.The Italian’s side will be favourites to reach the final in Wroclaw on May 28 but there was little here to strike fear into any opponent as th...
Sky Bet League Two promotion rivals Bradford and Notts County fought out a 1-1 draw in a frenzied atmosphere at Valley Parade.Ciaran Kelly headed the Bantams in front but the hosts’ hopes of going top were dashed by a superb equaliser from David McGoldrick.Bradford fashioned the first chances in a frantic first half. Alex Pattison half-volleyed over the bar and Antoni Sarcevic shot into the ...
- 1 Chelsea to scout 24-year-old star today
- 2 Mark Robins wants win at Cardiff to galvanise Stoke for Championship run-in
- 3 PL side eyeing summer move for Rashford
- 4 Ian Holloway salutes Swindon supporters after dramatic victory over Bradford
- 5 Miron Muslic hailed Plymouth’s spirit after comeback victory
- 6 Pop icon with £580M net worth makes appearance at Stamford Bridge
- 7 David Gray hails ‘incredible achievement’ as Hibernian match club record run
- 8 Enzo Maresca: It’s up to Chelsea fans to decide if they want to back team
- 9 Late Ianis Hagi equaliser for Rangers denies Celtic early title party
- 10 Brendan Rodgers frustrated five-star win over Kilmarnock was not a title party