Andre Onana looks as though he is being burdened by the Manchester United jersey in recent weeks
Manchester United boast a goalkeeping legacy that lasts almost as long as the club itself. From Reg Allen and Harry Gregg in the 1950s all the way through to modern greats like Peter Schmeichel, Edwin van der Sar and David de Gea, the number-one jersey at Old Trafford weighs a tonne.
Andre Onana of Manchester United
Anyone who plays between the sticks must prove themselves to be just as worthy as those who came before. For Andre Onana, that task has been a difficult one so far.
The 27-year-old was arguably United’s most radical summer signing. Brought in for £47million to replace the long-serving De Gea, the Cameroon international has blundered on several occasions and was at fault again for Brentford’s opener at the weekend.
Had United failed to recover in injury time, the criticism of Onana would have amplified. But time is on his side – just as it was for his predecessor in 2012. Signed as the long-term successor to Van der Sar, De Gea, then a scrawny, 21-year-old shot-stopper, was experiencing similar difficulties.
Manchester United has a storied history of exceptional goalkeepers
Several high-profile errors caused the media to label him “Dodgy Dave” and opponents found it easy playing against the then feeble keeper. He was a far cry from the goalie who would go on to win two Golden Gloves, be named Man United’s player of the season four times and make 545 appearances for the club.
Onana should heed De Gea’s admission over a decade ago when combatting his own goalkeeping struggles. The Spaniard said in 2012: “Let’s face it, all keepers make mistakes once in a while and none of us like it when we do. It’s well known that the style of play here (in the Premier League) is rather more physical and as a goalkeeper you’ve got to be right on it. You’ve got to be attentive all through the match.
“The players coming at you can shoot from any angle, and they can shoot from distance. There’s also a lot of crosses from the sides, a lot of high balls and aerial play. So, you’ve got to get in there and block and stop shots being taken.
“There have been doubts in the first season but I always had faith in my ability. The pressure at an elite club like United is huge but (Sir Alex) Ferguson just told me to do what I did at Atletico. You have to be as strong when things go wrong but I don’t get nervous. Mistakes are normal; everyone makes them.”
De Gea’s early days were not easy either
At one point, De Gea looked a possible United failure. Van der Sar, a man who quashed years of goalkeeping uncertainty following Schmeichel’s exit in 1999, urged him to liberate himself from the history books – advice that still rings true today.
“Maybe it was hard to follow in my footsteps,” he said. “It can happen. People got compared to Peter Schmeichel, now maybe it’s me. De Gea has to ignore that and just play his own game. The main thing is how you recover in the next game, or the game itself.”
And that is exactly the point. There is no point dwelling on mistakes against Galatasaray or Brentford, his two most calamitous performances to date. Onana has a two-week break to clear his head and focus on becoming the next great United keeper.
One advantage is him being an experienced 27-year-old, having played in Champions League finals and represented his country 35 times. Unlike De Gea, who was thrown into the deep end at 21 and expected to be a hero from day one. As he mentioned, mistakes are part and parcel of the game, even if it means the ire of pundits.
“They have made a major risk getting him in,” former Premier League striker Chris Sutton told the It’s All Kicking Off podcast. The bottom line is, over the years, Manchester United have had great goalkeepers. Peter Schmeichel, even David de Gea.
“De Gea was a far better goalkeeper than Onana but if Onana just does his job – and it wasn’t a difficult save to make – then there’s not an issue. I think he is bringing increased pressure on the whole team and the truth is he is not good enough for Manchester United.”
The growing consensus among rival fans appear to echo Sutton’s words but it remains too early to cast a fair judgement. Onana is the only man who can dispel the naysayers and etch his name among the pantheon of Old Trafford greats.
