Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana is leaving Erik ten Hag’s critics red-faced as an impressive stat regarding the former Inter Milan star has surfaced. Ten Hag came under fire for axing Red Devils hero David de Gea to bring in Onana in the summer, before the Cameroon international made a string of high-profile errors during his early days at Old Trafford. But the player’s arrival could now be paying off.
United shelled out a hefty £47.2million to sign Onana from Inter just weeks after allowing De Gea to leave for free at the end of his contract. The former Ajax shot-stopper proceeded to concede 10 goals in his first five Premier League appearances, while seven goals flew into the back of his net during his first two Champions League encounters in a United shirt.
The 27-year-old even took the blame for his side’s 4-3 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich in September after he failed to keep out a tame effort from Leroy Sane for the opener. “It’s difficult to lose this way because I feel in the beginning, we started very good,” he told TNT Sports. “After my mistake, we lost the control of the game.
“It’s a difficult situation and for me especially because I’m the one who let the team down. But the team was very good – I think it’s because of me that they didn’t win this game. We just have to move on. This is the life of the goalkeeper and, if we didn’t win today, it is because of me.”
Onana’s performances have improved in recent weeks and he helped his side secure their first Champions League victory of the campaign in October against Copenhagen as he saved a stoppage time penalty from Jordan Larsson.
The keeper then made a string of fine saves during United’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at the end of last month before keeping his fourth clean sheet of the season against Luton on Saturday.
Onana has a save percentage of 73.8 per cent in the Premier League after his latest game. Only Liverpool’s Alisson could better those stats after saving 78.7 per cent of the efforts he had faced ahead of the Reds’ clash with Brentford on Sunday. And the data suggests Onana is finally starting to make an impact between the posts.
The fact that Onana is comfortable with the ball at his feet and can join in with play means he has given Ten Hag’s team another dimension. And the Dutchman’s decision to replace De Gea with Onana may well be vindicated.
