MUCH maligned Andre Onana capped off an eventful first season at Manchester United by winning the FA Cup, seeing him become the first African goalkeeper to lift the trophy since Bruce Grobbelaar in 1992, writes Vlad Andrejevic.
The Cameroonian international, 28, joined the Red Devils last summer, becoming the club’s first goalkeeper from Africa. He was signed from Inter Milan for a fee of £47.2m following his exceptional performances which helped the Italian side reach the Champions League final.
He was brought in to replace the long-standing number one goalkeeper David De Gea and was immediately thrown into the first team, however it took him a while to get settled. He was primarily brought in to help manager Erik Ten Haag (with whom he had previously worked with at Ajax) implement a more progressive style of play, something Onana was perfectly suited for.
Throughout the season, recurring injuries to key defenders meant that the defensive unit was chopped and changed as Manchester United struggled with consistency, unable to adopt the playstyle that Onana thrived in. At the heart of that ever-changing back line, he struggled, especially in the Champions League as Ten Haag’s men largely underperformed.
Nonetheless, Onana stayed resolute though the criticism and worked hard to turn his fortunes around, notably producing a stellar display at Anfield where he made eight saves to keep a clean sheet. His influence on the dressing room grew in tandem with his performances, despite his team’s turbulent form.
Earlier this month, Onana explained in an interview that it took him six months “to feel good” at his new club, however he remained defiant about the criticism and backs himself for the future. “It depends if you want to stay down there or stand up and fight. I know what I did to arrive here. I know who I am. I decided to stand up and fight.”
The Cameroon international has certainly silenced some critics, ending the season with the highest number of saves in the league with 149. He then went on to help his side defy the odds and beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final which saw him lift a club trophy for the fourth year running.
Whilst a transition is in full flow at Manchester United since the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Manchester United’s number one position looks to be established and ready to thrive next season.
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