Manchester United’s recent 3-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford has intensified internal tensions, particularly involving goalkeeper André Onana. Reports suggest that Onana has expressed significant dissatisfaction with a teammate’s subpar performance, allegedly stating, “Either they sell him now, or I’ll leave this club. Enough is enough, and as a goalkeeper, I need to voice out now. His performance for this club is below average, and the board needs to do something about it.” This statement underscores the growing frustration within the squad amid a challenging season.
The match against Brighton began unfavorably for United, with Yankuba Minteh exploiting defensive lapses to score in the opening five minutes. Although Bruno Fernandes equalized through a penalty after a VAR review, United’s defense continued to falter. Kaoru Mitoma restored Brighton’s lead, and a critical error by Onana—mishandling a routine cross—allowed Georginio Rutter to secure Brighton’s third goal. This defeat marked United’s tenth league loss of the season, highlighting persistent defensive issues.
The backdrop to this on-field disappointment was a poignant tribute to club legend Denis Law, who recently passed away. The emotional pre-match ceremony, featuring a wreath laid by former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, contrasted sharply with the team’s lackluster performance. Fans’ discontent has been palpable, with some criticizing Onana’s recent form and questioning his role as the team’s primary goalkeeper. The pressure mounts on manager Ruben Amorim to address these internal conflicts and defensive shortcomings to prevent further decline in team morale and performan
ce.