MANCHESTER United manager Erik ten Hag has insisted that Andre Onana is one of the best goalkeepers in the world despite a string of costly errors.
The Cameroon international replaced David De Gea as United’s No.1 this season but he has produced error-strewn performances and conceded several savable goals.
Onana was at fault for one of the goals last night as United lost 3-2 to Galatasaray in their UEFA Champions League clash at Old Trafford, the Turkish club’s first-ever win on English soil.
He also committed a howler in United’s 4-3 opening group phase defeat at Bayern Munich, letting a harmless shot slip under his body into the net for the opening goal.
“I will encourage Onana, I will back him — I will support him,” Ten Hag said last night during his post-match press conference.
“He’s a great goalkeeper. He can be one of the best in the world. We have seen already Onana’s great capabilities and also his personality. He will bounce back, I’m sure.
“We are happy with our goalkeeping group. Andre was in one semi-final, last season in a final of the Champions League.”
Ten Hag led United to a third-place finish in the Premier League last season as they also reached two cup finals, winning the Carabao Cup.
However, his second season in charge has started poorly, with the side on the verge of elimination from the Champions League after two straight defeats and struggling in 10th spot in the Premier League with just nine points from seven matches.
Manchester United have conceded 18 goals in 10 matches in all competitions this season, their most after 10 games of a campaign since 1966-67 (20), according to Opta statistics.
Ten Hag admitted that a rash of injuries to key players like Luke Shaw, Aaron wan Bissaka and Lisandro Martinez should not be used as an excuse for the below-par performances but believes his side can fight back.
“Explanation? There are no excuses. Maybe we’re unbalanced left side but still can’t be making the errors we are. We have to do better, simple as that, we have to win our games,” the Dutchman said.
“If it were the same mistakes you could say. But I have seen a team that was really connected, great spirit, played fantastic in stages, in control then all of a sudden a mistake. I have to give coaching instructions to deal with such situations.
“Last season went brilliant, more than we could expect, we also went in a project, we knew there would be gaps, in this period very difficult. But we stick together, me, directors, team, all together we will fight. We know we have to do better.”
