Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag will continue to support André Onana as the team’s primary goalkeeper, standing by the decision to bring him in after the departure of David De Gea last summer, as per a source cited by ESPN.
Onana’s performance in the 3-3 draw against Galatasaray in Istanbul, where he made two costly mistakes, has left United’s Champions League aspirations in a precarious position.
Despite Onana’s challenging start to the season and occasional blunders, Ten Hag, according to a source, believes in the £43 million ($53 million) summer signing from Inter Milan and expects him to rebound.
The source indicated that Ten Hag is likely to maintain his trust in Onana for the upcoming Premier League match against Newcastle on Saturday, unless the goalkeeper expresses a desire to be temporarily sidelined.
Onana was acquired during the transfer window to fill the void left by De Gea, who served as United’s No. 1 for over a decade.
While some fans have called for De Gea’s return, Ten Hag, as per the source, sees the benefits of signing the former Ajax goalkeeper as outweighing the drawbacks, given that his playing style aligns better with the Dutch manager’s vision.
Despite Onana’s errors in the recent match against Galatasaray, Ten Hag was impressed with the goalkeeper’s build-up play, which contributed to Alejandro Garnacho scoring the opening goal.
United faces a crucial match against Bayern Munich, with their Champions League fate hanging in the balance.
Failure to win could result in elimination at the group stage, while a victory could see them progress to the round of 16 under specific conditions.
A third-place finish would lead to a Europa League spot, and finishing at the bottom would mean an early exit from European competition.