André Onana Under Pressure as Manchester United Goalkeeper Faces Crucial Test Under Amorim

André Onana’s future at Manchester United hangs in the balance after another disappointing night between the posts. The Cameroonian goalkeeper was at fault for both goals in United’s 2-2 draw away at Lyon in the Europa League quarter-final—his errors further fueling criticism about his suitability at the highest level.

Ahead of the match, former United midfielder Nemanja Matić labeled Onana “one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United’s history.” Unfortunately for Onana, his performance did little to silence such biting remarks.

Brought in from Inter Milan in July 2023 for a fee of £45 million, Onana was meant to replace club legend David De Gea, who departed on a free transfer. The deal raised eyebrows—not just for the cost, but because De Gea has since returned to top form with Fiorentina. While Onana’s footwork was touted as superior, his shot-stopping and command in goal have been consistently questioned.

On Thursday night, he allowed Thiago Almada’s curling free-kick to slip past him due to poor anticipation. Then, in the final minutes, a failure to collect a routine shot led to Rayan Cherki’s dramatic equalizer. Those two blunders marked Onana’s eighth and ninth errors directly leading to goals since arriving at Old Trafford—a league-leading figure for Premier League goalkeepers in that time.

Manager Rúben Amorim was sympathetic but subtly acknowledged the problem:
“If you play a lot of games, mistakes happen,” he said.

One factor working against Onana has been his heavy workload. In his debut season, he featured in 51 matches for United and represented Cameroon in multiple international fixtures, including a brief but controversial stint at the Africa Cup of Nations. His understudy, Altay Bayındır, was rarely used—appearing only during Onana’s Afcon absence.

This season, injuries to both Bayındır and third-choice Tom Heaton have complicated squad depth. While Heaton is now fit again, at 38, he’s unlikely to be a long-term solution. Bayındır, when given chances, notably shone in the FA Cup shootout win over Arsenal—adding to calls for a rethink in the goalkeeper hierarchy.

United’s fragile defense has also compounded the problem. Unlike past United keepers who played behind rock-solid backlines, Onana has endured constant changes in personnel and tactics. Add to that three different goalkeeper coaches in just 18 months, and consistency becomes a luxury.

Statistically, the numbers are damning. Onana has kept a clean sheet in just 26.1% of his 69 league appearances—the worst record for any United keeper with over 900 minutes since 2003–04. His save percentage is 67.7%, placing him in the middle tier of the Premier League. For a club vying for top-four finishes, that’s not good enough.

Manchester United’s attack has also struggled, scoring only 37 goals in 31 Premier League games while conceding 41. The margins are fine—and costly goalkeeping errors are no longer affordable.

As United prepare to face Newcastle this Sunday, Amorim is expected to stick with Onana for now. But patience is wearing thin. The club’s financial priorities may not allow for a new goalkeeper this summer, but unless Onana rediscovers his best form soon, Matić’s scathing assessment may not be far from how fans remember him.