Erik ten Hag has likened Andre Onana’s slow start to life at Manchester United to the early struggles endured by Peter Schmeichel and David de Gea.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Change made in important positionSpanish shot-stopper allowed to move onCameroonian custodian yet to convinceWHAT HAPPENED?
The Red Devils made the big decision to bring in a new No.1 during the summer transfer window. Long-serving De Gea was allowed to depart as a free agent after 12 seasons in England, during which he broke United’s all-time clean sheet record.
AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Cameroon international Onana was the man identified to fill a sizeable void between the sticks, with £48 million ($58m) invested in prising him away from Serie A giants Inter. The 27-year-old has endured an error-strewn start to life in Manchester – conceding 19 goals through 11 appearances – but legendary predecessors such as De Gea and Danish great Schmeichel did not hit the ground running either.
WHAT THEY SAID
Ten Hag is eager to point out as much, telling reporters when asked to deliver another assessment of Onana’s efforts so far: “He knows, we know, he will do much better and as every player who's coming into the Premier League, you need an integration period but he has to step up. Big United keepers like Peter Schmeichel and David de Gea started not doomed and Andre knows that it is good to know a little bit from history. We live now, we live in the future and he has to make his future by giving better performances. I'm sure he will do. He showed it at Barcelona, Ajax, Inter Milan, he was in semi-final and final of Champions League, I'm sure he will give a great performance.”
(C)Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Onana, who is already seeing questions asked of his future at Old Trafford, will be back in action on Saturday when United – who sit 10th in the table as things stand – return to Premier League action with a trip to rock-bottom Sheffield United.
