Optimistic Onana Reflects on a Challenging Season and Sets His Sights on a Brighter Future at Manchester United
Andre Onana had admitted Manchester united have gone through a bad season but he is optimistic he’ll have less to do in the next season.
Onana faced over 200 shots from opponents in premier league games alone during his debut season at Old Trafford as a result of weak defence that hindered the ten hag’s team.
In total, United conceded 58 league goals while scoring just 57, as they ultimately finished eighth and out of the European places in their lowest Premier League finish.
Ten Hag’s position is under severe scrutiny and even winning the FA CUP final against the current EPL league title holders Manchester city on Saturday may not be enough to save him. Onana, who arrived from Inter Milan for an initial £43.8million last summer, admitted his debut campaign for United has been one to forget.
Asked about the number of shots he has faced, he said: ‘It’s a price to pay. Everything is temporary – last season they didn’t face that, and I’m 100 per cent sure that next season we will not face that.
‘It’s football I think it’s about moments, and we faced a lot of injury crises, lost a lot of important players but, of course, it’s not an excuse.
‘It’s just a bad season for all of us, and we have to stay positive as we are doing at the moment.
‘I know everything will be alright if not this season, it will be next year.’
Cameroon international Onana, 28, has increasingly looked the part at Old Trafford after a few shaky moments early on.
Cameroon international Onana, 28, has increasingly looked the part at Old Trafford after a few shaky moments early on.
But overall United have regressed from the side that finished third and won the Carabao Cup in Ten Hag’s first season, drawing plenty of criticism in the process.
Asked about ex-United players turned pundits blasting the team’s performances, Onana added: ‘I don’t pay attention to it.
‘I have come into this team to take bullets, because we are under construction – at the moment, we are not the best.
It remains to be seen whether Erik ten Hag has done enough to save his job for next season
Onana’s goal has been peppered all season but he insists it is a ‘temporary price to pay’
‘We have other teams who are doing better than us and we have to be honest and recognize that.
‘If things and when things are going wrong, don’t go for the youngest player – I’m here to take it, Bruno [Fernandes], Casemiro and Harry [Maguire] are there and we are used to it.
‘When it’s people who were sitting when I’m sitting, who won everything, sometimes it’s bizarre – we are in the same boat.
‘We try to follow your thing and what you did. For me, I don’t mind, but other people may be affected.’
United finished their Premier League campaign on Sunday with a 2-0 win at Brighton, with Diogo Dalot and Rasmus Hojlund on target.
But wins for Chelsea and Newcastle left them in eighth, with only a win over City in the FA Cup final opening the door to continental football in the UEFA Europa League next season.
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