Erik ten Hag has fittingly issued a timely challenge to his new goalkeeper Andre Onana to ‘step up’ after a shaky start to his career at Old Trafford.
The Cameroonian has conceded no less than19 goals in 11 games since joining United from Inter Milan for £47.2million in the summer to replace David de Gea. No doubts Sheffield United will be looking forward eagerly to put him to the test at Bramall Lane on Saturday night when both sides meet. United pulled off a dramatic comeback win over Brentford a fortnight ago, but the 27-year-old Cameroon international was still placed under the harsh spotlight of the critics for conceding Mathias Jensen’s opening goal.Ten Hag was candid in acknowledging his former Ajax goalkeeper is capable of doing better and backed Onana to come good, making the effort to point out that even the likes of top-notch former United goalkeepers like De Gea and Peter Schmeichel struggled at the start of their Old Trafford careers.
“He knows and we know he will do much better,” said the Dutchman.
“Every player coming into the Premier League needs an integration period, but he has to step up. Big United keepers like Peter Schmeichel and David de Gea started not good and Andre knows it is good to know a little bit from history.
“But we live now, we live in the future, and he has to make his future by giving better performances. I’m sure he will.”
Ten Hag conceded that Onana has suffered from not playing behind a settled back four at United due to injury problems.
”I will never use injuries as an excuse and Andre is not doing that either,’ added Ten Hag. ‘But, of course, every time you have a different defending line in front of you it is not helpful. It didn’t help his integration, absolutely.”