Onana can learn from past Reds keepers

Friday 20 October 2023 12:30

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes Andre Onana needs only to look at some goalkeeping greats from the club's past to understand how a difficult start can be overcome.

The Cameroonian is back from international duty and looking to help the Reds pick up three points at Sheffield United on Saturday night.

Although, by his own admission, it has not been the beginning to his United career that he would have wanted, the experienced keeper is not alone in taking time to settle into the English game.

Indeed, Peter Schmeichel and David De Gea faced some adversity in their early days at the club, before going on to cement their reputation among our all-time legends.

Part one: Press conference v Sheffield United Video

Part one: Press conference v Sheffield United

Press conference | Erik ten Hag is asked about the club's future, Jadon Sancho, Andre Onana and more...

Following a big move from Brondby, Schmeichel kept four clean sheets on the spin after his Division One debut against Notts County but was questioned soon afterwards, with one bruising encounter against Wimbledon gaining some negative attention.

De Gea received criticism for his performances against Manchester City in the Community Shield and 2011/12 Premier League opener at West Brom, before being rotated with Anders Lindegaard during his first season.

Like all top keepers, they showed their mentality and strength, something that Ten Hag believes his number one at Ajax has in abundance.

"We know and he knows he will do much better," Ten Hag asserted at his press conference to preview the upcoming clash with the Blades.

"Every player who comes into the Premier League needs an integration period but he has to step up. However, also big United keepers like Peter Schmeichel and David De Gea, also they started not too good.

"For Andre, it is good to know, from that little bit of history, but also we live now and we live in the future. He has to make his future by making better performances.

"I'm sure he will do that and he has already shown that so many times in big clubs like Barcelona, when he was young. At Ajax, he was in the semi-final of the Champions League. He was in the final of the Champions League [last season with Internazionale].

"He is a great player and I am sure he will give us performances. I am sure we will have a lot of joy from him.''

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