Onana's 'Scam'

Goalkeeper Andre Onana is facing increasing pressure at Manchester United, and the prospect of a overhaul in the Red Devils' goalkeeping position may be imminent.

ZNews•13/04/2025

The first leg of the Europa League quarter-final against Lyon turned into a nightmare for Onana.

Joining Old Trafford from Inter Milan for a hefty transfer fee of £45 million in the summer of 2023, the Cameroonian goalkeeper has yet to demonstrate the consistency and performances that justify the club's investment. Many have even called him a "scam," a costly but wasteful signing.

Onana lost herself.

The Europa League quarter-final first leg against Lyon turned into a nightmare for Onana, as he made two serious mistakes that directly led to disastrous goals conceded by Manchester United. The first goal came from a free kick by Thiago Almada; the shot wasn't particularly dangerous, but Onana reacted slowly, allowing the ball to easily slip through his hands.

The drama reached its peak in the 90+5th minute, when a seemingly harmless shot caught Onana off guard, the ball slipped from his hands, and Cherki scored, snatching away a heartbreaking victory for the "Red Devils". These two consecutive mistakes sparked outrage from fans and experts alike.

Notably, former Manchester United veteran midfielder Nemanja Matic didn't hesitate to call Onana's performance "one of the worst goalkeeper performances in the club's history." These harsh criticisms further deepened doubts about the Cameroonian goalkeeper's ability and consistency at Old Trafford.

This season, Onana's problems have become even more apparent. Erik ten Hag brought Onana in to replace David de Gea, who had dedicated many years to Manchester United. However, this decision has never proven to be a sound one.

Although Onana may be better at playing with his feet than De Gea, his lack of reflexes and ball control has cost Manchester United dearly. After De Gea's departure, Onana was expected to perform well, but his performances have not lived up to expectations.

Onana brother 1

To date, Onana has made a total of 9 mistakes leading to goals conceded this season.

To date, Onana has made a total of 9 errors leading to goals conceded, and according to Opta statistics , he holds the record for the most errors made by a goalkeeper in the Premier League. This is even more noteworthy considering Manchester United's struggles to score, with only 37 goals in 31 Premier League matches. They have conceded 41 goals, a far too high number for a team hoping to compete for the top spots.

Onana's clean sheet record is also a weakness. With a rate of 26.1% in 69 Premier League games, he ranks last among Manchester United goalkeepers since statistics began in the 2003/04 season. This is significantly lower than David de Gea (35.4%) and even further behind goalkeepers like Roy Carroll, who kept a clean sheet in 53.1% of his games.

One key factor preventing Onana from finding consistency is the defensive line. Since he joined MU, the team has made significant changes in its selection of defensive players.

The series of injuries and failed trials of Ten Hag and Ruben Amorim forced Onana to play behind an unstable defense. This not only affected his morale but also made it difficult for the African goalkeeper to maintain consistent form.

Goalkeepers, while not subjected to the same physical pressure as other players, face a significant mental challenge. They need absolute concentration throughout the 90 minutes of play, especially when their team lacks a solid defense. Onana, constantly having to adapt to new teammates in the defense, struggled to regain his consistency.

Countdown timer with Onana

Despite this, Onana still enjoys Amorim's trust, being the number one goalkeeper in all competitions MU has participated in. However, a series of mistakes and poor statistics are creating immense pressure on the former Inter Milan star.

Another factor contributing to Onana's difficulties is the demanding schedule. After playing 51 games for Manchester United last season and participating in matches for Cameroon, the former Inter Milan star has had little time to rest.

Onana brother 2

Onana is pushing himself out of Old Trafford.

Although the goalkeeper position doesn't demand excessive physical fitness, concentration and tension throughout matches are crucial. Goalkeeper coaches at MU also change frequently, which doesn't help Onana maintain consistency in training and matches.

In that context, Onana needs to improve his performance if he doesn't want to be replaced. Amorim is unlikely to want to change goalkeepers at the moment due to financial difficulties and other issues within the squad.

However, if Onana cannot regain his consistent form, a series of mistakes could cost him his place at Old Trafford, and Matic's criticism will become a reality. For Onana, when his name is mentioned, it will become a forgotten name in Manchester United's history.

Two silly mistakes by Onana led to MU being held to a draw. In the early hours of April 11th, MU drew 2-2 with Lyon away from home in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals.

Source: https://znews.vn/cu-lua-onana-post1545534.html