Things go horribly wrong for Andre Onana in Old Trafford debut

Andre Onana had a very forgettable Old Trafford debut and if this continues for sometime, the Manchester United fandom will turn on him very quickly.

Manchester United’s new goalkeeper, Andre Onana, faced both praise and criticism during his Old Trafford debut as he was caught off his line, resulting in a stunning 40-yard goal by RC Lens’ Florian Sotoca.

The match, a pre-season encounter, showcased Onana’s on-the-ball skills but also highlighted potential vulnerabilities in his positioning.

Having opted not to extend David de Gea’s contract, Manchester United secured the services of Andre Onana from Inter Milan for a hefty £47 million.

The decision to bring in Onana was driven by Manager Erik ten Hag’s quest for a modern-style goalkeeper, adept at playing with the ball at his feet. Onana demonstrated this attribute in his debut against Real Madrid, immediately making an impact.

He also showcased his assertive nature by vocally expressing his dissatisfaction with Harry Maguire’s mistake in a subsequent defeat against Borussia Dortmund.

However, during his first appearance at the Theatre of Dreams against RC Lens, Onana found himself in a challenging situation.

A poorly executed pass by United’s Diogo Dalot gave Sotoca the opportunity to execute a daring long-range shot, catching Andre Onana off-guard.

Despite his efforts to retreat and defend the goal, Onana was unable to prevent the ball from crossing the line, leading to criticism from some quarters.

Comparisons were drawn to former No.1 goalkeeper David de Gea, with several fans suggesting that De Gea’s positioning and decision-making might have prevented the goal.

Some comments highlighted that De Gea would have stayed on his line, implying that Onana’s aggressive starting position was a contributing factor to the goal.

While the goal conceded by Onana was undeniably remarkable, United managed to turn the tide in the second half, with Marcus Rashford, Antony, and Casemiro all finding the back of the net in quick succession.

Ten Hag’s team continues its pre-season preparations with a friendly against Athletic Bilbao in Dublin before their Premier League campaign opener against Wolves on August 14th.