Peter Schmeichel has detailed why one important Manchester United player is struggling this season.
Manchester United slipped to their 11th Premier League defeat of the season on Sunday in a 3-1 loss to Manchester City.
Marcus Rashford’s wonder goal opened the scoring but a stunning Phil Foden brace and late Erling Haaland strike turned things around for City.
It’s been a miserable campaign for Erik ten Hag’s side, with a Champions League place becoming less likely with every passing week.
It hasn’t been the step up many expected after a promising first season, with the manager’s new signings not working.
Andre Onana was one such signing after he was brought in from Inter to replace David de Gea in goal.
However, the 27-year-old has struggled to settle into the side, with his lauded ability in possession rarely on display.
Legendary United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has explained why Onana has found things difficult.
Peter Schmeichel explains Andre Onana’s United struggles
Schmeichel said on Outspoken with Simon Jordan: “Why do you bring Andre Onana in? Well, his ability with his feet is incredible.
“We saw that with Inter last season but that was well-drilled into that team, that was a clear system of how they play.
“A clear way that he was contributing to the team. And he’s come in to a lot of confusion, so how’s the team playing.
“Are they supposed to play it from the back every time. Are the players, good enough to play it out? Is the system well-drilled enough to play the ball out from the back all the time?
“I don’t think it is, I think a lot of things have hampered that development. Of course, injuries to a lot of the defenders, the pairings in front of him I think he’s got 12 or 14, it’s been difficult.
“For Inter last season, I was quite impressed with him so I know it’s there. The goalkeeper is still part of the team.
“So whatever happens in the team will have a reflection on the goalkeeper’s performance.
“If the team’s not working the goalkeeper won’t work. Any little insecurity is going to take off your performance.
“If you ask Andre himself, are you happy with your first six months at Manchester United? I assume he’s say no, I can do a lot better.
“And we’ve seen him do better. We signed him because he can do better. So I hope that he’s going to.
“I’m not going to put all the responsibility on his shoulders, that would be so wrong. I think the team hasn’t functioned.
“There are a lot of things that haven’t been great and if you are in that environment it’s difficult.”
Promising signs
Schmeichel is right, if Onana has never played behind a settled or full-strength defence, how is he supposed to build an understanding with them in order to play his best football?
United have been ravaged by injury all season long and the absences of Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw have been particularly damaging.
There were some promising signs in Sunday’s defeat to City, with Onana’s long pass upfield directly leading to Rashford’s goal.
The Cameroonian also made a string of good saves to keep City at bay but did he allow Foden’s second to slip under him.
It’s an improvement but there’s lots of work to do.
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