Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has lifted the lid on his conversations with Andre Onana, following his shaky start to life at Old Trafford.
The Cameroonian has conceded 19 goals in his first 11 games between the sticks, and numerous came from woeful mistakes or blunders by the ‘keeper.
Onana was sought to replace David de Gea this summer after his 12-year stay at the club came to an end in July. United paid £47.2 million to acquire the 27-year-old from Inter Milan, with Erik ten Hag keen to reunite after their time at Ajax.
Fans have, obviously, begun to express their concerns over Onana’s form, with the latest goal – Mathias Jensen’s 26th-minute strike in yesterday’s game – being put down to the keeper’s hand not being strong enough.
Schmeichel analyses Onana
Schmeichel detailed conversations he had with the No.24 and gave his take on the matter, saying on Premier League productions (via Daily Star): “The goalkeeper is not covering himself in glory in that one [Jensen’s goal]. My theory is that he’s just lifting up, he’s not setting off, his arm is coming up to go down, whereas as a goalkeeper you learn to dive along around for the ball, you don’t go up to come down.
“We saw the same mistake against Bayern Munich and I notice the same thing, he just kind of lifts himself instead of actually diving and moving towards the ball.
“Don’t ask me because I’m not Onana, I don’t know,” the Dane continued. “It’s a technical [issue]. I think a lot of that is pressure, I spoke to him after Bayern, I spoke to him after the other Champions League match against Galatasaray as well, he’s very down on the mistakes he’s made. I’m trying to speak to him about what it’s like to be at Manchester United, what you have to take.
“Whatever mistake you’ve made, you have to put it in a box straight away and put it to the side. So you make a mistake in a game, it might be a mistake we see, it might be a mistake that we don’t see, but you wait to think about it and analyse it until after the game or at night or whatever.
“You have to be there for the next moment, if you’re not you’ll make the next mistake. And now he’s upset the whole team. Now they will even more not trust him, and my God, it’s not good.”
sometimes players need a bit of time to adjust to the new environs.de Gea whom some ppl are now ridiculously clamouring for had a horrendous maiden season by the way.Onana has proven himself to be a good keeper but Man Utd is his greatest challenge so it might need a bit of time to adjust.i just wonder if those clamouring for de Gea’s return are serious.we are so fickle at times.what a joke….
I am happy with legendary peter Schmeichel’s counsel to the Young 24 MU shot stopper. This is what we want to see especially when players are going through difficult moments in their carrier. Onana just needs to take what Peter pointed out to him as a major contributor to his past mistakes in order to stop it’s continuity. I can also say here that the Fans are not really helping matters with their wavering trust.Mu back line is having a serious problem that needs to be addressed fast. I tell you, any shot stopper at his best will be exposed by this backline.