Ten Hag: Onana will bounce back

Wednesday 20 September 2023 23:44

Andre Onana has the right mindset to bounce back, says Erik ten Hag, after the goalkeeper fronted up and took responsibility following Manchester United’s 4-3 Champions League loss to Bayern Munich.

With the sides locked at 0-0 in the first half, winger Leroy Sane struck a powerful effort towards goal that squirmed beyond the Cameroon international and gave the hosts the lead – arguably against the run of play.

After an action-packed encounter, Thomas Tuchel’s team ran out narrow victors and Onana immediately sought to speak to TNT Sports to accept his part in the loss.

Speaking at his post-match press conference at the Allianz Arena, Erik addressed the same situation, backing his goalkeeper and asserting that he has the key traits to quickly move on.

Onana feels responsible for defeat

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Despite making several saves in Munich, Andre Onana says he is culpable after his error.

“[In] football on the whole, [there] will always be mistakes and this is one mistake,” said the Dutchman.

“So we also don't make it bigger than it is.

“This was not just Andre and then, after that, he made, in the second half, great saves for us and he shows his capabilities and abilities.

“He will bounce back, and he is a very important player.”

The fact Onana fronted up to the media afterwards was certainly to his credit.

''It is good that he is doing that but it is about the team," insisted Ten Hag. "Always mistakes are being made, but you have to bounce back as a team. When you score three goals as Manchester United once again, and one player makes such a mistake, it is done, it is gone.

"That is what we, as a team, we have to believe that we always can bounce back. Tonight we showed it, that if you stay in the game and you fight for yourselves in the game, and must keep going, even after the mistakes."

Highlights: Bayern Munich v United Video

Highlights: Bayern Munich v United

Highlights | Watch all the goals from our pulsating opener in Champions League Group A...

Andre displayed his impressive passing in the early stages of the match and made important stops from Harry Kane and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in the second period to keep the Reds in the game, when Bayern threatened to put the result clearly beyond doubt.

While the hosts’ first goal is one that Andre is disappointed with, he has displayed his importance between the sticks already in his short time at the club, since arriving from Internazionale in the summer.

And it was his first real error with the chance to put things right in our next outing, the Saturday night trip to Burnley in the Premier League.

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