Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Viktoria Plzen on Thursday night was a crucial Europa League victory, but the spotlight once again fell on goalkeeper Andre Onana after yet another error in what has been a series of concerning mistakes.
Despite Rasmus Hojlund’s brace ensuring that the points were secured, Onana’s blunder handed the Czech side an unexpected lead, prompting fresh questions about his form and fitness, particularly with the upcoming Manchester derby against rivals City just days away.
Onana’s latest mistake came when the score was level at 0-0, and his attempted short pass to defender Matthijs de Ligt was intercepted by Viktoria Plzen’s Pavel Sulc. Sulc quickly found Matej Vydra, who capitalized on the error to give the visitors the advantage.
The blunder was the latest in a growing list of lapses for the Cameroonian goalkeeper, whose ability to play out from the back has become a key aspect of United’s style under manager Erik ten Hag.
Defenders Back Onana, But Concern Mounts
Although the mistake could have proved costly, United showed resilience to bounce back, with Hojlund scoring twice to seal the victory. However, the focus shifted to Onana, whose error mirrored a similar blunder against Nottingham Forest just days earlier.
In that match, Onana was deceived by a shot from Morgan Gibbs-White, allowing a simple effort to sneak past him for Forest’s third goal in a 3-2 victory.
Despite these missteps, Onana’s teammate and captain Bruno Fernandes came to the goalkeeper’s defense after the match, downplaying the individual mistake.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Fernandes emphasized the importance of maintaining collective confidence, rather than singling out Onana for the error.
“It is not about Andre making the mistake,” Fernandes said. “We don’t look at individuals here when something happens on the wrong side. We have huge belief in him. He knows he made a mistake because he is a clever guy, he is going to help us many times, and we trust his qualities on the ball.”
The Portuguese international added that mistakes are part of football and that it was essential for the team to show resilience in recovering from the setback.
“If mistakes don’t happen, then goals don’t happen,” Fernandes concluded, reinforcing his support for the goalkeeper and the squad’s mentality.
Onana’s Recent Form: A Cause for Concern?
While Onana has been generally solid since joining Manchester United in the summer of 2023, the repeated mistakes are beginning to raise questions.
Despite being one of the Premier League’s top goalkeepers this season in terms of clean sheets, his past errors remain fresh in the minds of fans and pundits alike.
Last season, Onana’s costly mistakes in the Champions League group stage, particularly in a 3-3 draw against Galatasaray, were blamed for United’s early exit from Europe’s premier competition.
The game against Viktoria Plzen was a reminder of the ongoing issue with Onana’s distribution. Known for his ball-playing ability, Onana’s tendency to play short passes under pressure has occasionally backfired. In this instance, his pass was too easily intercepted, leading to the Plzen goal.
Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves, speaking on TNT Sports, highlighted the role of De Ligt in the error, suggesting that the central defender was hesitant to take responsibility for the ball, which compounded the mistake.
“De Ligt doesn’t really want it, which is why he goes back, but he’s got to go to the ball so they can get it out wide,” Hargreaves noted. “It’s both of their fault.”
Ex-Arsenal player Karen Carney also weighed in, explaining that the slow ball from Lisandro Martinez to Onana set the stage for the mistake.
“If they do that, he can bounce it out the other side and avoid the high press. But De Ligt is on his back foot, and he doesn’t want the ball, he’s too slow to react and then it’s an error.”
The debate over Onana’s mistakes, however, raises broader questions about United’s tactics under ten Hag.
While the Dutch coach’s emphasis on playing out from the back has brought success in certain games, it also invites risky moments when things don’t go according to plan.
Ten Hag’s system is built around possession-based football, where the goalkeeper plays a key role in distributing the ball accurately under pressure. When that system fails, the results can be disastrous, as seen in both the Plzen and Forest games.
Comparing Onana to De Gea: Is He Living Up to Expectations?
The spotlight on Onana’s recent errors has inevitably led to comparisons with his predecessor, David de Gea.
Onana, who was brought in by ten Hag as part of a wider shift towards modern, possession-based football, has often been lauded for his ball-playing ability, a stark contrast to de Gea’s traditional shot-stopping style.
However, Onana’s mistakes have prompted fans and analysts to reflect on whether de Gea’s more traditional approach might have been better suited for the role.
After leaving United in the summer of 2024, de Gea has enjoyed a strong start to the season with Fiorentina, keeping seven clean sheets in 14 appearances.
In contrast, Onana has conceded 27 goals in 22 appearances for United, despite keeping the same number of clean sheets.
The statistics suggest that de Gea’s shot-stopping has been more effective this season. With a save percentage of 80% compared to Onana’s 67.1%, de Gea has shown that his reflexes and traditional goalkeeping skills remain elite.
Onana, however, has made more contributions with his feet, completing 805 passes with a passing accuracy of 77.3%, far surpassing de Gea’s 69.3% pass completion during his final season at United.
While de Gea’s performances at Fiorentina are certainly impressive, the real test for Onana will come in the coming weeks, particularly with the Manchester derby looming.
His ability to play out from the back and distribute the ball effectively will be crucial if United are to build on their recent performances and avoid costly mistakes that could derail their season.
A Glimmer of Hope for Onana
Despite the recent errors, it is clear that Onana’s abilities as a ball-playing goalkeeper are highly regarded by both ten Hag and his teammates.
His passing range and technical ability make him one of the best in his position when it comes to distributing the ball from the back. However, as the mistakes mount, the pressure on Onana will only intensify.
Bruno Fernandes’s unwavering support is undoubtedly a confidence boost for Onana, but the goalkeeper will need to demonstrate greater consistency and improve his decision-making if he is to live up to his potential and solidify his place as United’s number one.
With Manchester City up next, Onana’s performance will be scrutinized like never before. For now, Onana remains a key figure in United’s pursuit of success, but the spotlight is firmly on him to turn his recent missteps into learning experiences rather than costly blunders.