Being Manchester United goalkeeper brings with it pressures to go with the prestige.
The microscope is well and truly focused, and every action is monitored closely.
One man who has experienced this first hand is former Reds keeper Anders Lindegaard, who recently spoke to us ahead of his debut for United Legends, against Celtic, on Saturday 7 September.
Previewing the 2024/25 season, Anders is backing Andre Onana to continue his upwards trajectory in what will be his second season between the sticks for Erik ten Hag's team.
“I think Onana has done very well, in terms of handling it [the pressure],”
said Lindegaard.
“I think he got a lot of criticism. I think he got too much as well. People should try to understand what it is that he was brought to Manchester United for. He was not brought to Manchester United to just make world-class saves and bail the team out, as we have been used to a little bit with David De Gea. He was brought to Manchester United because he has world-class feet. He is a top-three goalkeeper in the planet with his feet in terms of distribution, in terms of passing the ball out, setting up play.
”You can't expect him to dominate the boxes like Thibaut Courtois. You can't expect him to make as many fingertip saves as David De Gea. That is their best ability and where they are the best in the world. Yet we can expect him to be world class with his feet. But he can't do that without the help of his team. It is a lot easier to make world-class fingertip saves just by yourself. But playing out from the back is not just about you, it is about the team in front of you as well. So the team needs to be set up and have the right players to do that.
“At the end of the day, the fact he has overcome the amount of criticism he has faced is a testament to his mental strength. He's got a very strong head. The fact he can overcome it is remarkable and really impressive and I salute that.
”I think he found himself in a good place and a good state by the end of the season and I can assure you that he will have been a lot stronger by the end of the season than he was at the start. He has taken in a lot of experience that is going to benefit him for his further career at Manchester United. I just hope he is given the chance to really showcase how brilliant he is with his feet.
“I remember before United signed him, when he played the Champions League final with Inter against Manchester City and he controlled the game. City couldn't make their play work and couldn't get their press working, couldn't get the ball off Inter, because of Onana. He was by far the best player on the pitch in that match. It was one of the best performances I have ever seen any keeper have with their feet and that really tells you something. If you can do that in a Champions League final and against Manchester City, then it is pure world class.
”I want to see that as a Manchester United fan. But he needs the help of his team-mates and his coaches to practice something like this.“
Lindegaard crossed paths with another current United keeper during his time at Burnley - Tom Heaton - and is thrilled the Academy graduate signed for another year at the club this summer.
“I speak to Tom every now and again, he is a fantastic guy,”
he added. “I love Tom. I am definitely going to see him when I come back [for the Legends game] in September and I'm very much looking forward to it.
”He is a fantastic man, he's a great goalkeeper, he is a top, top professional and I really understand why he is still at United. There is a huge benefit of having a personality like him in a locker room. Always positive, always smiling, and also very serious. He knows what it is about.
“He is not there to have fun. He is there to win and to make an impact on the team. He definitely has a personality that will have an impact on any team, even though he is not playing for the first team. I am super happy for Tom that he renewed his contract but I am equally happy for Manchester United that they have signed him because I am sure he is a huge plus for the whole Manchester United equation.”
Now retired from football, Anders has a level-headed view on life after retirement, and posted advice to others who may follow the same path on his LinkedIn page recently.
A model professional, the former Red is both honest and self-critical in equal measure, ensuring he and his family continue to have a strong relationship with one another.
Watch Lindegaard play for United's Legends against Celtic, at Old Trafford, on Saturday 7 September.