Onana's nightmare has Man United on Champions League brink

byRoxaine November 30, 2023

In Istanbul, a banner at Galatasaray's Rams Park aptly declared, "Your nightmare is back again," a sentiment that proved especially true for André Onana. The goalkeeper, who has become known for Champions League blunders, added two more catastrophic mistakes to his record, contributing to a 3-3 draw that dealt a blow to Manchester United's Champions League aspirations.

Onana had previously committed errors against Bayern Munich and Galatasaray earlier in the season. In this encounter, his blunders played a significant role in the Turkish champions securing a draw. Despite Erik ten Hag's team having the game seemingly under control at 2-0 and later at 3-1, Manchester United finds themselves at the bottom of Group A with one round of fixtures remaining. The team's Champions League prospects now hang by a thread.

The vulnerability of this United side is evident as they managed to score nine goals in three European away games this season but failed to secure a victory in any of them. Across their five Champions League matches, they have conceded a total of 14 goals, placing them among the teams with the highest goals against in the competition. Notably, only Royal Antwerp, who have experienced defeats in every group stage game, have conceded more goals than Manchester United in this season's Champions League.

"We win and lose together," stated Erik ten Hag after the match, demonstrating his reluctance to place blame on André Onana, the £43 million summer signing from Inter Milan. Despite the goalkeeper's errors, Ten Hag emphasized the progress evident in the team and highlighted numerous positives from the game.

"I take many positives from this game. Some mistakes, we played like I want my team to play. It was enjoyable to watch that: proactive, dynamic, brave and we scored great goals," said Ten Hag. He acknowledged the setbacks but praised the team's resilience, noting missed opportunities that could have secured victory.

Expressing disappointment in the team's management of the game, Ten Hag remained optimistic about learning from the experience. He emphasized the frustration of the players having done the hard work before Onana's errors, with large portions of the match seeing them as the superior team.

The challenging conditions in the Turkish capital, marked by torrential rain for over 24 hours, set the stage for the encounter. Despite the intimidating banner that greeted the teams with "Welcome to hell," United managed to quell the fiery atmosphere in the stadium within the first 20 minutes, showcasing their dominance for significant periods.

The initiative to calm the storm in Istanbul began with Alejandro Garnacho, who, following a remarkable overhead kick against Everton, displayed confidence in walking into a challenging situation and urging everyone to calm down. After a fluid team sequence, the 19-year-old executed a powerful finish into the net's roof and emphasized the moment with a "calma, calma" celebration in front of the Galatasaray fans. In response, the crowd retaliated by throwing a barrage of projectiles from the stands.

Captain Bruno Fernandes took charge, clearing the field of these objects before delivering a missile of his own. Receiving the ball from Luke Shaw on the left, he took a couple of strides and unleashed a powerful shot into the top corner with his right foot from 25 yards. Despite his celebration of sliding on his knees and covering his ears, the anticipated loud reaction from the crowd was replaced by stunned silence.

Post-match, coach Erik ten Hag addressed the need for improved "game management," yet this seemed to overlook the impact of André Onana's errors. Without Onana's contributions, the team likely would have secured a victory, as Hakim Ziyech capitalized twice on free-kick goals that should have been stopped.

The first of Hakim Ziyech's goals wrong-footed André Onana, slipping past his right knee. However, the mistake for the second, occurring after Scott McTominay had scored United's third, was of the caliber that often finds its way onto compilations of football's major blunders. Onana seemingly anticipated a header from Anthony Martial to clear Ziyech's cross, but without a touch from the French forward, the ball's pace surprised the United No. 1, leading to an unfortunate own goal.

Despite his efforts, Onana could do little to prevent substitute Kerem Aktürkoglu's powerful finish that leveled the score at 3-3. Unfortunately, by that stage, the damage had already been done.

André Onana's pair of clangers gifted Galatasaray a 3-3 draw against Manchester United in the Champions League on Wednesday

At the conclusion of the match, André Onana appeared disheartened on the pitch, requiring consolation from his backup Altay Bayindir, Galatasaray goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, and Hakim Ziyech. Meanwhile, his Manchester United teammates walked off the field and into the tunnel.

Erik ten Hag offered reassurance about Onana, stating, "He is OK." Emphasizing the collective nature of the game, Ten Hag highlighted that while individual errors can impact outcomes, it's ultimately about the team. He expressed confidence in the entire squad, noting their quality and deserving place in Manchester United, as they are skilled and brilliant players, extending this sentiment to the entire team.

"As a team, we have to learn because we are conceding too many goals and it is unnecessary and avoidable. I am sure our team is experienced enough and capable enough to manage this, and we will do better."

The vulnerability in defense has become a recurring theme in the group stage campaign. Despite any reluctance on Ten Hag's part to explicitly state it, Onana has played a significant role with critical mistakes in crucial moments. The latest instance of his recurring nightmare has placed Manchester United on the brink of Champions League elimination.

Tags
Roxaine

Posted by Roxaine

Post a Comment

0 Comments