If there was a little to support Andre Onana’s theory Manchester United are “way better” than Lyon, there was further fuel for Nemanja Matic’s accusation. For the goalkeeper branded one of the worst in United’s modern history came one of his worst nights in their shirt, a pair of mistakes to strengthen Matic’s argument.
Arguably United were superior to Lyon but it was not reflected in the scoreline as a semi-final spot remained on a knife-edge. That was due to Onana, who bookended the scoring with blunders, affording Lyon a 95th-minute equaliser when he pushed Georges Mikautadze’s shot straight back out. Rayan Cherki, following up, tapped in. “The worst moment to concede a goal,” said Leny Yoro. There was no attempt to sugarcoat it; nor could there be. “There is nothing I can say now to help him,” said Ruben Amorim of Onana, although he added an endorsement. “I am really confident in Andre.”
Amorim argued the tie is “50-50” though home advantage could render them slight favourites to secure a semi-final against Athletic Bilbao or Rangers. Yet this had promised so much more – one of the best results of Amorim’s reign, salvation to their season in the form of silverware and Champions League qualification – when Joshua Zirkzee headed them into an 88th-minute lead.
But Onana, the man who may have talked too much, contrived to have the final say. At fault for Thiago Almada’s equaliser, he made another error in injury time. He was too erratic in Europe last season, leading to United’s elimination. History still threatens to repeat itself.
He can at least be grateful for his teammates’ resolve. For United, a year with many an unflattering statistic also includes a more enviable one. They are the only unbeaten side in the Europa League or the Champions League this season. Theirs has been a strange form of invincibility, given their domestic form, but they extended it. Even as they conceded first for the 24th time this season, they again proved their ability to come from behind in Europe.
But they had to. Onana made the eighth error leading to a goal in a relatively brief United career; there was a ninth to follow. If one concern is that they are too regular, another is that they tend to be howlers. This was another.
His pre-match words were undiplomatic and unwise and led to him being barracked and whistled. That was even before he handed Lyon the lead as United conceded straight from Almada’s crossed free kick. Onana may have been caught in two minds by the presence of the jumping Moussa Niakhate, the giant centre-back trying to glance in a header. Yet his was a feeble attempt to stop Almada’s curling delivery.
