Onana: We have to stay positive

The Reds now have just five games to cross off the calendar before the curtain comes down on the 2023/24 campaign – as we kick off our May schedule with the Bank Holiday Monday trip to Crystal Palace.

Now unable to secure Champions League qualification for next term, Onana says the squad want to end the season ‘with dignity’, before approaching another tantalising FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley in three weeks’ time.

“The whole season has been a difficult season for all of us, as an individual, as a group,” our no.24 said in an interview with international broadcasters.

“But we always have to stay positive because I don't think we lost the place in Europe against Burnley and we all have to take responsibility; I start with myself, always.

“It has been a difficult season. If you put everything on the table, you can speak about a lot of things, like injuries, players, about bad luck. But we are Manchester United, we are such a big club, so we cannot talk about that.

“We have to stay positive. The game last week is gone. [Be] positive, and if the season is not the best one, I'm sure the coming one will be better.”

The 28-year-old confessed he had envisaged the season being one of fighting for top honours, and while that hasn’t panned out exactly as we’d have hoped, there is still plenty to play for in the closing weeks of the campaign.

“I don't think my team-mates are happy with the situation we are facing because I know them, they are all winners, and everyone wants to win.

“When we started the season, we were speaking in the dressing room about fighting for every single title. But things happen in life and we have to deal with [this] situation.

“But now we have a beautiful final to play, we have another few games to play. We'll go for it and end with the dignity.”

On a personal front, after overcoming some difficult moments, Onana is convinced he made the right decision to join the club.

“Yeah, it was really hard [to start off with] but it's the first time I faced such a situation. Now I know the league, I know the people, I know the country, I know Manchester - okay, Rainchester!

“When I look back now, I'm just smiling because it was a big lesson for me. But in the beginning I was like, ‘Wow, did I make the right choice?’ But I'm definitely 100 per cent sure I made the right choice because Manchester United is the bigger club in this country, it's one of the biggest clubs in the world. Who would say no to come to play for this beautiful club?”

United will face an in-form Palace side on Monday evening, and with tricky opponents in Arsenal, Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City still to come, it’s reassuring to hear that Onana has no fear of whoever we come up against.

“As Manchester United, you're not afraid to play against anyone. So with all of respect, we will go there [to Selhurst Park] with the winning mentality. We'll be there in London to win.”