"Football is momentum" - Andre Onana on what inspired remarkable double save in Manchester United's draw against Crystal Palace
Andre Onana has emphasized the importance of confidence when reflecting on his crucial double save for Manchester United in their 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace. The Cameroonian goalkeeper made a sensational double stop to deny the Eagles at Selhurst Park (September 21).
Onana has endured a difficult spell at Old Trafford since joining United from Inter Milan for £47.2 million in July 2023. He looks to have turned a corner this season and put in his best display in Red Devils colors on Saturday.
The shot-stopper produced a fine stop to deny Eddie Nketiah's fierce strike before quickly getting to his feet and tipping Ismaila Sarr's effort away on the follow-up. He puts those exploits down to a confident mentality (via 90min):
"It's confidence. You just believe in yourself and things will turn because I said this last year when I started here because I had a difficult start. Football is momentum."
Onana touched on his struggles at Manchester United, which he feels are behind him:
"I had difficulty in the first six months at the club and after I turned around my situation. So it's just believing in yourself and following the flow now everything is going positive."
The 42-cap Cameroon international kept his third clean sheet in six games across competitions this season. His double save perhaps outshined the one made by David Raya in Arsenal's 0-0 draw against Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League last week.
Onana made four saves at Selhurst Park to ensure United at least came away with a point. The result leaves Erik ten Hag's side 11th in the Premier League after five games.
"It was class" - Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag hailed Andre Onana's double save
Ten Hag was full of praise for his goalkeeper after his double save in Manchester United's draw against Palace. The Dutch coach recalled Onana's penalty save in the Red Devils' 3-0 win over Southampton (via The Daily Mail):
"Last week he was very important by saving a penalty and the double save was brilliant and it was class."
Onana had already received mass praise for his performance in Manchester United's victory against the Saints. He denied Cameron Archer with an excellent stop from the spot, with the score level at 0-0.
That save proved to be the catalyst for his side to romp to a 3-0 win at St Mary's. There were question marks over Onana replacing David de Gea as Ten Hag's No.1 but he's silencing his critics this season.