Andre Onana faced a barrage of criticism following Manchester United’s disappointing 2-2 Europa League draw against Lyon, compounded by earlier tensions surrounding his performance.
Prior to Thursday’s match, the goalkeeper became entangled in a public disagreement with former teammate Nemanja Matic, who openly questioned Onana’s abilities and suggested he was among the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history. Onana responded on social media, highlighting that unlike Matic, he possessed tangible silverware from his time at the club.
However, Onana struggled to shake off the scrutiny during the game itself. He conceded a free kick by Thiago Almada which inexplicably found its way past him and a cluster of players, and later fumbled a shot that Rayan Cherki swiftly converted into a goal.
“He’s probably wishing he kept his mouth shut. Awful mistake,” stated Paul Scholes during halftime commentary on TNT Sports.
Scholes’ assessment remained harsh at the final whistle. “I think he was primarily responsible for the first goal; it was a significant error, albeit a challenging one, but he should have done better,” he commented.
Acknowledging Lyon’s superior performance overall, Scholes added, “On the whole, it’s the right result. They played the better football and created more opportunities.”
The discussion then turned to Onana’s future at Old Trafford. United invested heavily in the Cameroonian goalkeeper in 2023 after deeming David de Gea, a long-standing figure for the club, no longer fit for purpose.
Despite this significant investment, Onana has consistently underperformed, appearing a shadow of his impressive self from his time with Inter Milan and Ajax. Scholes was direct when asked about potential replacements:
- “Yeah, I think it’s something they need to seriously consider.”
However, he cautioned that any decision would be influenced by the club’s financial limitations. “They need to look at their budget too. Can you realistically afford *not* to spend on a goalkeeper?”
Scholes also pointed out concerns beyond just shot-stopping ability: “We’ve seen him perform exceptionally well at Inter Milan, but his distribution hasn’t been up to standard here. That was one of the key reasons he was brought in.”
Concluding his assessment, Scholes questioned whether United could afford another substantial investment, estimating around £40 million, for a goalkeeper. “Ruben Amorim has numerous issues to address.”
Manchester United next face Newcastle on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League (4:30 pm). The Red Devils suffered a 2-0 defeat against Newcastle previously, with goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton.
