“It’s a ridiculous statement - so poor” - Ex-Liverpool star slams Andre Onana for message to Manchester United fans before new season
Former Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchison has criticized Andre Onana for his message to Manchester United fans ahead of the new season. The goalkeeper, in a recent interview with the Telegraph, said that fans can expect him to take more risks in the upcoming season.
Manchester United, under Erik ten Hag, haven't been shy to utilize a strategy of building from the back. In fact, many believe Onana's relative comfort with the ball at his feet was one of the reasons why he displaced David de Gea as the club's No. 1 goalkeeper.
Speaking of the new season ahead, Onana said in the aforementioned interview:
"Yes, that’s me [taking risks] And I think it’s what you’re going to see this season because I will take a lot of risks. I can tell you in advance already! Be prepared because it’s going to be this season, trust me!... The best teams in the world take risks. Building from the back, recognise things, situations, when the opponent jumps one against one, or when they press with three or with four."
In light of these comments, Hutchison said on ESPN (via HITC):
"It’s ridiculous, that’s what that is. What benefit do you get from that if you are Andre Onana? If you are a centre-forward now – say you are a young and naive player, because experienced players will have already worked him out in his second season – if you are closing him down and Onana is about to do a trick, you aren’t going to buy it.
"You are going to stay on your feet and just rob him of possession. So I imagine Ten Hag is thinking ‘what on earth have you said that for? The player doesn’t get any benefit other than self-confidence so it is a ridiculous statement – so poor.”
Onana finished last season with just 13 clean sheets in 51 matches, conceding 83 times, and divided opinions within the fanbase with his risk-taking playing style between the posts.
Andre Onana talks about receiving criticism as Manchester United player
Andre Onana had a mixed debut season in England, rife with important saves and mistakes at the back. He likes to play short passes when he is in possession, rush out when there is impending danger, and even take on opposition attackers to evade pressure.
But that brings with it the possibility of mistakes. Moreover, his shot-stopping wasn't always reliable last season, as evidenced in their high-profile, and eventually costly, 4-3 Champions League group-stage loss against Bayern Munich.
Moreover, the Cameroonian international cost €50.2 million and came in from Ajax to replace a fan-favorite in David de Gea. Expectations have hence been high, and he has received criticism from his own club's fans when things haven't gone his way. Onana doesn't seem to mind it too much, though.
In the same interview, the 28-year-old added:
"Being a player for Manchester United, when you don’t win, it’s fair to receive criticism because it’s part of the job. We are here for it and me coming here as the best goalkeeper in the world, it’s normal they were tough on me because they expect a lot from me.
"But at the same time they also give me a lot of love. You just have to balance that and critics sometimes are good because you have to look back at what you did that was not good, so for me I take it positively."
Onana's most recent appearance came in a 3-0 friendly loss against Liverpool on August 3 during their pre-season tour of the USA