Sun Apr 13 14:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Manchester United Goalkeeper Onana Benched After Lyon Errors and Verbal Sparring
**Manchester, England** – Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana has been surprisingly dropped from the starting lineup for Sunday’s Premier League match against Newcastle United, ESPN sources confirmed. The decision follows a turbulent week for the Cameroon international, marked by criticism over his performance in the Europa League tie against Lyon and a public spat with former United player Nemanja Matic.
Onana, who did not travel with the team, will be replaced by Altay Bayindir. While a source close to Onana claims the benching is to allow the 29-year-old to rest and de-stress following a recent street robbery targeting his wife and the intense pressure surrounding his performances, the timing suggests a response to his costly errors against Lyon, where his mistakes contributed to a 2-2 draw.
The controversy escalated when Matic heavily criticized Onana’s performance, labeling him among the worst goalkeepers in the club’s history. Onana responded with a social media post highlighting Matic’s trophyless spell at Old Trafford.
Despite manager Erik ten Hag’s earlier public backing of Onana, the decision to bench him for the Newcastle match indicates a need for the goalkeeper to regain his composure. Onana is expected to return for Thursday’s crucial Europa League second leg against Lyon at Old Trafford. Meanwhile, pundit Shaka Hislop has emphasized the need for significant squad changes at Manchester United to improve their overall competitiveness.
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