Manchester United legend Roy Keane has seen an improvement in Andre Onana with the goalkeeper producing his finest Premier League display in Sunday’s 2-1 win at Aston Villa.
OK, he might not be a ‘master’ shot-stopper – as David de Gea was at his physics-defying peak – but Sunday’s massive 2-1 win at Villa Park certainly highlighted the extent and the variety of Andre Onana’s skill-set.
Not only did the £47 million summer signing make a number of fine saves – denying Ollie Watkins twice and keeping out a John McGinn piledriver – he also brilliantly fulfilled the ‘sweeper keeper’ duties that often shone a harsh light on De Gea’s weaknesses. Onana commanded his penalty box brilliantly too, a number of impressive claims from set-piece situations relieving the pressure as Aston Villa pushed for a late leveller.
Andre Onana a man transformed at Manchester United
After a pretty difficult start to life in England, Onana has been quietly effective for a while now, that Midlands masterclass less an exception and more the rule for a man who also pulled off superb stops against the likes of Liverpool and West Ham either side of Christmas.
“The goalkeeper looks a bit more solid,” United icon Roy Keane told Sky Sports after Erik ten Hag’s side cut the gap between themselves and fifth-place Villa to just five points.
“So the signs for United are a bit better than they were a month ago.”
Roy Keane praises Manchester United improvement
With Onana in inspired form at one end, United were once again indebted to the poaching prowess of Rasmus Hojlund and the box-crashing brilliance of Scott McTominay at the other. The duo, finding the net either side of Douglas Luiz’s equaliser, took their tallies to 11 and eight for the season respectively.
Teenage duo Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho maintained their superb recent form in the Midlands too, the former providing the ‘assist-to-the-assist’ as his quick feet set up Diogo Dalot’s match-winning cross while the latter was a constant threat with his driving runs.
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