Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has labelled Andre Onana the second-best goalkeeper in the Premier League this season, fighting back against criticism of his No 1. The £47million summer signing is under mounting scrutiny after his latest horror show against Galatasaray on Wednesday.
Onana produced two mistakes as United fluffed 2-0 and 3-1 leads to collapse to a 3-3 draw in Istanbul, leaving them rock bottom of Group A and on the brink of a Champions League exit.
The Red Devils face a tough task to return to winning ways this weekend when they travel up to Tyneside to face Newcastle United.
And Ten Hag has poured cold water on claims that Onana is at risk of being dropped for Turkey international Altay Bayindir, who is still awaiting his United debut.
The Dutchman pointed to the statistics, which show Onana is second behind Alisson in the Premier League this season for expected goals prevented.
He also only trails the Liverpool stopper with his save percentage, which prompted Ten Hag to brand him the league’s second-best goalkeeper ahead of Newcastle’s Nick Pope.
“If you analyse it well, then you see he’s the second-best goalkeeper in the Premier League, based on stats. His expected number of preventing goals is the second-best in the Premier League,” Ten Hag explained.
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“He’s doing well, but he knows that in the Champions League, he has made some mistakes, but all over, in the first five months, he has done well.”
Ten Hag is confident the 27-year-old will bounce back at St James’ Park despite Newcastle’s free-scoring nature on home turf, putting four past Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain and netting five against Aston Villa this season.
He added: “You know because you have seen how he is reacting to a bad performance like in Munich – and at Burnley, he was outstanding. He’s a strong character, he’s a personality, and he will deal with it.”
Newcastle can leave Ten Hag red-faced if they run riot again on Saturday night. A victory would see Eddie Howe’s side leapfrog United and potentially move into fifth.
