Rayan Cherki, Lyon’s rising star, has aimed a pointed remark at Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana following a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final. The match was marked by a series of errors from Onana, which allowed Lyon to recover and level the score after trailing 2-1.
Onana’s errors lead to Lyon’s comeback
The Cameroonian goalkeeper was at fault for both Lyon goals. The first mistake came when Onana failed to deal with Thiago Almada’s free-kick, allowing it to slip past him and give Lyon the lead. Later, Onana misjudged a shot from Corentin Tolisso, parrying it straight into the path of Rayan Cherki, who seized the opportunity to score the equalizer.
Pre-match comments and Cherki’s response
Before the match, Onana had claimed that Manchester United were a significantly stronger team than Lyon, which stirred some controversy. In response, Lyon’s Cherki pointed out that United’s cautious tactics, including the use of two defensive midfielders, showed that they were “particularly afraid” of Lyon. Cherki emphasized that despite United’s reputation, Lyon showed greater skill and were never intimidated.
Cherki’s confident statement
“We played a full game. We were much better than that team,” Cherki said in his remarks, highlighting Lyon’s superiority on the night. He also expressed hope that Manchester United wouldn’t repeat their defensive approach in the return leg at Old Trafford.
This encounter is just one chapter in a tense and dramatic Europa League tie, with Lyon gaining confidence after holding United to a draw. The stage is set for an exciting second leg.
