Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana faced renewed criticism following his costly mistake in the team’s 3-2 victory against Ipswich Town on Wednesday.
Despite securing three points, the Red Devils’ defensive frailties were once again exposed, with the Cameroonian shot-stopper singled out for his role in Ipswich’s opening goal.
The incident occurred in the fourth minute when Jaden Philogene capitalised on a mix-up between Onana and teammate Patrick Dorgu to score into an empty net.
Dorgu, a Danish full-back of Nigerian descent who recently joined from Lecce, played a blind backpass without checking Onana’s position. The goalkeeper had advanced off his line, leaving the goal unguarded as Philogene pounced on the error.
Former Tottenham and England winger Aaron Lennon did not hold back in his assessment on BBC Radio 5 Live, stating: “Patrick Dorgu didn’t look up once before making the backpass. But I don’t know where André Onana was going. It’s a real disaster.”
Robbie Savage, a former Welsh international and Manchester United academy graduate, echoed the criticism on TNT Sports, highlighting the breakdown in communication between the two players: “The communication between André Onana and Dorgu was non-existent.”
Onana’s inconsistency has been a recurring issue since his arrival at Old Trafford. Signed for £50 million to replace long-serving goalkeeper David de Gea, Onana was expected to offer superior distribution skills.
However, his performances have fluctuated between vital saves and costly mistakes, drawing frequent scrutiny from pundits and fans.
Social media comparisons between Onana and De Gea have intensified, with statistics showing that Onana has committed 12 errors leading to goals in two seasons – just five fewer than De Gea managed in 12 years at the club.
The pressure on Onana has mounted following previous high-profile mistakes, including errors against Everton earlier in the season.
Former Manchester United scout Mick Brown expressed doubts about the goalkeeper’s impact, telling Football Insider: “He hasn’t been good enough, and it’s becoming a problem for them.
They paid £50 million for him, and now people are questioning whether he’s really an upgrade on De Gea.”
Despite the criticism, manager Ruben Amorim has publicly backed Onana, following the approach of his predecessor Erik ten Hag.
However, Amorim appeared to issue a subtle warning after the Ipswich match, saying: “We need to improve, not just André Onana. We have a lot of problems.”
With Manchester United enduring a disappointing season by their standards, the club’s decision-makers are expected to make significant changes during the summer transfer window.
Onana, who recently changed his agent, faces a crucial period ahead. If he fails to deliver consistent performances, his time at Old Trafford could be cut short.
The coming weeks will be pivotal for Onana as he seeks to silence his critics and prove he is the right man to anchor Manchester United’s defence.
His future at the club may well depend on his ability to find the consistency that has so far eluded him.
