Erik ten Hag’s choice to swap David De Gea for Andre Onana has raised eyebrows, given Onana’s error-prone performances. Since his £48 million ($62 million) move from Inter, Onana has struggled to make an impact, with his recent mistake-ridden display contributing to Manchester United’s 3-2 loss to Galatasaray in the Champions League. Following this setback, Ten Hag has pledged to have a conversation with Onana regarding his latest nightmare on the field.
Former Red Devil, Lee Sharpe, expressed his concerns about the goalkeeper switch, stating, “I know De Gea faced criticism for his mistakes, but he was an exceptional goalkeeper, having been the players’ and supporters’ player of the year for three consecutive years until last season. The way they brought in Onana and swiftly replaced De Gea seemed unprofessional.”
Sharpe continued, “When the replacement makes more mistakes than the player he replaced, it’s natural to question the decision-making of the recruitment team. Currently, there are serious doubts about whether they made the right choice.” Onana’s lackluster performances have contributed to Manchester United’s worst start to a Premier League season in 34 years. Furthermore, the team finds themselves in a precarious position in the Champions League, having lost their first two group matches and conceding seven goals, leaving them rooted at the bottom of Group A.