Ten Hag backs underfire Man U goal-keeper Onana

Erik ten Hag came to the defense of goalkeeper Andre Onana on Friday, asserting that the Cameroonian’s statistics position him among the Premier League’s elite.

Onana’s initial tenure with United has been marred by notable errors in the Champions League, placing the Red Devils on the verge of a group-stage exit.

Notably, he was culpable for conceding two Hakim Ziyech free-kicks that triggered a Galatasaray comeback in a 3-3 draw in Istanbul on Wednesday, bringing United’s total goals conceded in five Champions League games to 14.

Contrastingly, Onana’s performance in the Premier League has been commendable, with only 16 goals conceded in 13 matches.

Ten Hag emphasized key metrics, illustrating that the former Ajax goalkeeper ranks second in the English top flight for saves made, save percentage, and goals prevented.

Ten Hag, addressed the media on Friday, stating, “If you analyze it thoroughly, you’ll see he is the second-best goalkeeper in the Premier League based on stats. He’s doing well. Also, he knows that in the Champions League, he makes some mistakes, but overall, you see, in the first five months, he is doing particularly well.”

Despite United’s recent Premier League resurgence with five wins in six games, they face a tough challenge against Newcastle on Saturday.

Ten Hag dismissed any speculation about Onana’s position on the side being in jeopardy, highlighting the goalkeeper’s resilience and character.

Ten Hag acknowledged the team’s need to step up when facing formidable opponents, recognizing the upcoming match against Newcastle as a difficult but exciting challenge.

Despite the recent rise in the Premier League standings, with United overtaking Newcastle into sixth place, Ten Hag emphasized the importance of performing at their best against well-organized opposition, especially considering the team’s struggles against top-half teams this season.

SOURCE: FRCN