Amid mounting scrutiny surrounding the performance of Manchester United’s latest acquisition, manager Erik ten Hag has unequivocally lent his support to goalkeeper Andre Onana, defending the player against recent criticisms.
The Netherlands head coach finds himself in the spotlight following a string of underwhelming performances by some of his signings, including Antony, Mason Mount, Sofyan Amrabat, and Onana, who have faced challenges settling into the club.
Ten Hag, however, staunchly backed Onana despite the goalkeeper’s recent lapses, notably evident in the Champions League where he encountered two notable errors. “If you analyze it well then you see he is the second-best goalkeeper in the Premier League based on stats,” emphasized Ten Hag, shedding light on Onana’s statistical performance.
Highlighting the statistical prowess of the shot-stopper, Ten Hag elaborated, “His expected preventing goals is second-best in the Premier League. 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.”
Emphasizing Onana’s resilience and mental fortitude, Ten Hag pointed out instances where the player bounced back from setbacks, stating, “You have seen how he is reacting on a bad performance like he did after Munich. At Burnley, he was outstanding. He is a strong character, he is a personality and he will deal with it.”
Ten Hag’s unwavering support for Onana underscores the manager’s confidence in the goalkeeper’s abilities and character despite recent on-field errors. As scrutiny intensifies, Ten Hag remains resolute in his belief in Onana’s capacity to overcome challenges and continue contributing positively to Manchester United’s campaign.
