Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur: Onana the real focus

How a huge premier league clash has become more about Andre Onana than the actual teams involved.

A tense game is set to befall Old Trafford later today as Manchester United play host to visiting North London side Tottenham Hotspur for a premier league clash that holds great significance.

Prior to the clash, a great deal of narratives have faced both teams, with Ange Postecoglou doing a remarkable job to bring an injury threatened Tottenham Hotspur side to within 1 point behind fellow North London rival, Arsenal.

The Lillywhites as they are very rarely called, stand a chance to go top of Arsenal, into 4th spot, should they take points back to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium assuming they are able to beat Manchester United.

Now, this means, the Red Devils will be forced to languish in 9th place heading into the Winter Break, instead of moving up to 6th spot.

But those aren’t the narratives in focus here, as prior before this game, a certain Manchester United player has drawn more interest and hype to the clash; one that leaves a whole nation rather angry than enthused.

When word came out that Cameroon goalkeeper and international, Andre Onana was ready to give up his spot in the national team, and possibly shun the team camp at the AFCON tournament, a lot of Africans, and of course, a huge consensus of Manchester United fans who were African, met the player with disdain.

They saw it as a direct disrespect to the prestigious African tournament, and even to the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), as the player chose to appear for Manchester United and against Tottenham Hotspur, hours before Cameroon played its first Group game.

Of course, Cameroonians themselves did not hide their disapproval, as Andre Onana gave dozens of them a reason to go on social media to call him and the club out.

The former Ajax man however, cannot be judged for looking after his own personal interest; which is to keep his place in the United team than risk it being stolen by his would-be replacement.

Onana knows his place in the Cameroon team is all assured, with little to no threat in the Indomitable Lions squad enough to bother him.

There is also the argument that Cameroon needs him more than he needs Cameroon, which isn’t the same for Manchester United.

As paradoxical or ironic as it may sound, Manchester United doesn’t not need Andre Onana as much as he needs the club, and though he has played all the minutes available this season for him, leaving for the AFCON before a very important clash to Tottenham Hotspur, could force Manchester United to consider other options.

And fair play to the 20-times Premier League Champions, Andre Onana’s performances so far, hasn’t built much confidence in fans’ minds or won anyone over.

Of course, there have been a couple of 5-star performances in games to help the Red Devils get over the line, but of those performances, the Cameroonian has made costlier mistakes to deny Manchester United points to win games they very well could have won with a consistent goalie.

And, with the Cameroon international ditching his country in favor of Manchester United, the game against Tottenham Hotspur puts more pressure on the Red Devils than it does for Ange Postecoglou’s side who would be coming to get whatever they can from Old Trafford.