‘Brilliant’ ex-United ace’s downfall began against West Ham, £43m star has perfect chance to prove his importance

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During the tail-end of last season, David De Gea was going through a terrible run of form for Manchester United.

Some fans blamed David De Gea for costing Manchester United during the 2-1 FA Cup final defeat to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City as it was Ilkay Gundogan’s rather scuffed volley that won the cup for the Citizens.

However, it was a mistake a couple of weeks prior that irked some sections of the United support even more and that was the mistake he made to allow Said Benrahma’s poor shot to wriggle through his grasp and win the game for West Ham United.

Despite being labelled as ‘brilliant‘ by Erik ten Hag after the mistake against the Hammers, that error from the Spaniard looked to be the final nail in the coffin for his time at Old Trafford.

Andre Onana will likely line up at the London Stadium and the Cameroon international has to prove that his future won’t go in a similar direction.

Onana’s point to prove

In the Premier League for United, Onana has been brilliant for the Red Devils and was in top form against Liverpool making a couple of brilliant saves to deny the Merseyside club from picking up a victory at Anfield.

However, in the Champions League, it’s a different story for the 27-year-old. Vital mistakes against Galatasaray in Istanbul cost the Red Devils a place in the knockout stages of the competition.

Well, when the Red Devils lineup against the Hammers, Onana has to prove that the big summer change in between the sticks, the first since De Gea arrived in 2011, has not been a fruitless decision.

Onana is the right man for the job

The criticism he has faced this season has certainly been harsh but the reality is that the Cameroon international goalkeeper offers something for the Red Devils that they didn’t have with De Gea.

Onana exudes calmness and provides confidence to his teammates and looks to be every bit like a United player. The mistakes he has made for the Red Devils have been inexcusable but this is his first season in England.

The goalkeeper said it himself, he was the best keeper in the Champions League last season, and that doesn’t change in six months.

Against Liverpool last season, United lost 7-0 to Jurgen Klopp’s men and that was with the hosts recording an expected goal rate (xG) of 2.92. In the same game this season, the Anfield club recorded an xG of 2.68 and the game ended in a draw.

It’s numbers like that, that just shows United that they need to stick with the 27-year-old between the sticks.

A ground which really confirmed David De Gea’s fall from grace will be a great chance for Onana to prove he is ready to be the United number one goalkeeper for the long-term.

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