One aspect of Andre Onana’s game at Manchester United has gone unnoticed and it could be the key to getting the best out of one man in particular.
When Andre Onana decided to move to England, his passing range and his ability to claim crosses in the box, something which David De Gea always struggled to do, were mentioned the most.
One underrated aspect of Andre Onana’s game is his sweeping and just how high he is when Manchester United are in possession.
This may well help Harry Maguire, as it seems the English defender could be set for more chances in the United first team due to injuries.
Steve Bruce on Onana
Former United defender Steve Bruce believes that the former Inter Milan goalkeeper may well be the key to getting the best out of the former Leicester City defender.
“The way that the manager likes to use (Andre) Onana like a sweeper, he is an extra body in the build-up play so that might help Harry Maguire,” Bruce said on Sky Sports’ coverage of the game.
“This could attract a player that allows him more space to dribble out with the ball – it can only be a positive for him to be playing.”
Onana has kept just three clean sheets this season, although two of these three have been in back-to-back games.
The United fans have taken to the goalkeeper as his confidence and his willingness to be interviewed after he makes a mistake are admirable qualities.
Could Onana help Maguire
The confident goalkeeper playing as a sweeper would certainly help United and may well make up for Maguire’s lack of pace.
During the 2020-2021 season, Maguire and Victor Lindelof played in front of Dean Henderson, in the absence of De Gea, this had the same transformative effect on the Englishman.
United conceded 12 goals during Henderson’s stint in the Old Trafford goal with four clean sheets and Maguire looked reborn with a confident goalkeeper behind him, this could well be the case if Onana and the Englishman feature together.
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