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<\/p>\nAndre Onana gifted Bayern Munich the opener (PA Wire via DPA)<\/p>\n
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Perhaps it was a piece of calamitous goalkeeping in an away defeat in Europe that made Erik ten Hag\u2019s mind up. David de Gea came out of his box, failed to control the ball and Youssef En-Nesyri was able to place the ball into the empty net from long range.<\/p>\n
Manchester United required a new goalkeeper. Three months after Sevilla ejected them from the Europa League, on their return to continental competition, United lost again due to a goalkeeping error. Different goalkeeper, different type of mistake, admittedly. But if Ten Hag\u2019s diagnosis was that United needed a footballing goalkeeper, given De Gea\u2019s struggles with the ball at his feet, the issue this season is that they have not had a goalkeeping goalkeeper: not anyway, yet.<\/p>\n
But, as errors from United\u2019s supposed shot-stoppers go, this was more Massimo Taibi against Southampton than De Gea versus Sevilla. As Leroy Sane\u2019s feeble shot slipped under Andre Onana, the first of seven goals in the Allianz Arena felt the most important. The Cameroonian accepted as much. \u201cIt\u2019s my responsibility; because of me, we didn\u2019t win,\u201d he said. \u201cI have to recognise that we didn\u2019t win because of me. after my mistake we lost control of the game. It\u2019s a difficult situation for me, I let the team down.\u201d If the last line of the defence has offered no defence for himself, his honesty is at least admirable. \u201cThat is good,\u201d said Ten Hag.<\/p>\n
Yet United had hoped the manager could compliment an old ally for his performances on the pitch, not in the post-match interviews. Instead, the scoreline \u2013 Bayern Munich 4-3 Manchester United \u2013 appeared deceptive, flattering to Ten Hag\u2019s team, indicative of bad goalkeeping. But Bayern knew they had a problem with Manuel Neuer injured: they spent the summer on a futile search for an upgrade to Sven Ulreich.<\/p>\n
But United thought they had a solution: an expensive one, too, given that Onana was available on a free transfer a year earlier. They paid an initial \u00a343m for perhaps the best goalkeeper in last season\u2019s Champions League; though very much not, if expected goals are the measure, in Serie A for Inter. Thus far, his save percentage in the Premier League is a lowly 65.5. He had conceded three goals in the Champions League before making a save. \u201cIn the second half, he made great saves so he shows his capabilities,\u201d said Ten Hag. Those second-half stops, however, are not why Onana\u2019s night will be remembered.<\/p>\n
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And thus far, the defining moments of his United career are not saves, either. Since publicly blaming Harry Maguire for a goal in a pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund, Onana has been rather more culpable himself. He was lobbed from 50 yards against Lens. He should have conceded a penalty against Wolves for flying into Sasa Kalajdzic. Perhaps he could have done better for Lisandro Martinez\u2019s own goal against Tottenham. Peter Schmeichel, United\u2019s greatest goalkeeper, blamed Onana for Declan Rice\u2019s decisive goal for Arsenal. Certainly Joao Pedro\u2019s strike for Brighton looked saveable. If they weren\u2019t hideous blunders, there is the suspicion another goalkeeper would have saved some of them; perhaps, some might say, an in-form De Gea.<\/p>\n
Ten Hag sought to downplay what he saw as an aberration at the Allianz Arena; as well he might, given that Onana\u2019s struggles reflect on him in a way De Gea\u2019s certainly did not. The sense was that Ten Hag was lumbered with the Spaniard, but he chose his successor. \u201cOf course, he knows he has to stop that ball but the way Sane came through cannot be,\u201d the manager argued. \u201cIf there is one mistake, don\u2019t make it bigger than it is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yet it was wretched, it was against Bayern, a European superpower in the Champions League, and it was when an otherwise out-of-form United side had started well. Onana\u2019s mea culpa was a reflection of that. \u201cI think he shows he takes the responsibility and that shows personality,\u201d Ten Hag said. That personality could equip Onana to play for United; then again, Fabien Barthez scarcely lacked personality and his Old Trafford career was curtailed by the man who bought him.<\/p>\n
Now there is a sense in which a United manager has never had more options. A shortage of fit outfield players was the primary reason why United had three goalkeepers on the bench against Bayern. With four goalkeepers in the squad, they conceded four times in a Champions League game for the first time since 1994. Perhaps it was a case of quantity not quality though the other three were blameless for their supposed superior\u2019s failings. That Ten Hag bought another goalkeeper, Altay Bayindir, on deadline day could offer an alternative. Yet his pursuit of, and reunion with, Onana indicates his former Ajax charge will be afforded the chances to recover from his dreadful start.<\/p>\n
But there may have been a goalkeeper watching on and wondering what might have been. And if United do change their minds, De Gea is still available on a free transfer\u2026<\/p>\n
Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"