Andre Onana’s tenure at Manchester United has already sparked significant debate, particularly regarding his ability to handle the immense pressure that comes with being the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. After transferring from Inter Milan for an initial fee of £43.8 million, with an additional £3.4 million in add-ons, Onana faced a tumultuous debut season. His performances have been closely scrutinized, with the Cameroonian goalkeeper conceding a staggering 83 goals across all competitions. Despite managing 13 clean sheets in 51 appearances, those high-profile errors left fans and pundits questioning whether he could rise to the challenge at Old Trafford.
As the 2024/25 season unfolds, Onana remains under the microscope, especially in light of Manchester United’s considerable investment in their defensive lineup. The club brought in top-tier defenders from Bayern Munich, including Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, aiming to shore up the backline and provide Onana with the support he needs. However, former United players have already voiced their concerns about the goalkeeper’s capacity to thrive under such intense pressure.
Peter Schmeichel, the legendary United goalkeeper, has been one of Onana’s most vocal critics. Schmeichel suggested that many of the mistakes made during Onana’s debut season were a direct result of not coping well with the pressure of playing for Manchester United. The weight of expectation at a club with such a storied history can be overwhelming for many, and goalkeepers are often the first to feel the heat when things go wrong.
Adding to this growing narrative, former United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard has now shared his perspective, following his participation in a legends match against Celtic at Old Trafford. Lindegaard, who spent five years at United from 2010 to 2015, working closely with former No. 1 David de Gea, offered an insightful critique of Onana’s current situation. He pointed out that while Onana has shown resilience and improvement in recent performances, handling the pressure is something that comes with the territory of playing for a club like Manchester United. Lindegaard emphasized that there is no magic formula for dealing with the scrutiny and intensity of the role. If a goalkeeper can’t handle the weight of expectation or refuses to embrace it, they may not be cut out for the job.
His remarks echo those of another former United keeper, Tim Howard, who has also been critical of Onana’s decision-making. Speaking to NBC Sports, Howard questioned whether Onana’s risk-taking approach is suitable for a club where even the smallest mistake can be magnified. Howard pointed out that many of the goals Onana conceded last season were “very saveable” and expressed concerns over whether the goalkeeper had shown enough improvement to silence his critics. He acknowledged Onana’s talent but stressed that more consistency is needed to justify the confidence placed in him by the club and its supporters.
As the discussions around Onana’s future at Manchester United intensify, it’s worth noting that Schmeichel also highlighted the lack of a stable defense as a contributing factor to the goalkeeper’s struggles. Last season, Manchester United’s backline was plagued by injuries, with key defenders like Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Raphael Varane, and Harry Maguire spending time on the sidelines. This lack of continuity in defense undoubtedly disrupted the team’s overall stability, leaving Onana exposed on numerous occasions. Schmeichel, while critical of some of Onana’s mistakes, believes that with a more consistent and reliable defensive unit, the goalkeeper has the potential to perform at a world-class level.
Now that players like de Ligt, Martinez, and Maguire are fit, there is hope that United’s defense will offer Onana the protection he needs to flourish. Schmeichel recently commented on the noticeable improvements in Onana’s game toward the end of last season. He noted that any goalkeeper requires a solid defense in front of them to truly shine, and with United’s defensive reinforcements, there is optimism that Onana will rise to the challenge and prove himself as the top-quality goalkeeper that many believe he can be.
Ultimately, the upcoming season will be a crucial period for Onana. While he has shown glimpses of his potential, the pressure to deliver on a consistent basis will be immense. With former United legends offering both criticism and encouragement, the stakes could not be higher for the Cameroonian goalkeeper. His performances, particularly in key matches, will be scrutinized by fans, pundits, and former players alike, all eager to see if he can cement his place as Manchester United’s long-term No. 1. Only time will tell if Onana can rise above the pressure and live up to the high expectations placed on him at one of the world’s most demanding football clubs.