Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has opened up about the criticism he has faced since taking over from David de Gea, saying he does not feel pressure but instead sees it as a source of motivation.
Onana, who joined Manchester United from Inter Milan in 2023, has been under intense scrutiny due to his goalkeeping mistakes. Once hailed as a wall for Inter, the Cameroon international has struggled to find consistent form at Old Trafford. His performance in the UEFA Europa League quarter-final led to him being dropped by manager Ruben Amorim for the match against Newcastle United.
Despite criticism from fans and former players, Onana remains calm.
“I don’t feel pressure. It’s not the pressure, it’s an extra motivation. We have been in the game for so long, so I don’t think we have any pressure. For sure, no. For me, it’s the opposite,” Onana told reporters.
“It’s my way of seeing things in life. Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t think so. So for me, it’s you win or you learn,” he added.
Onana has been called one of the “worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history” by some critics, as fans continue to question if he’s the right replacement for de Gea, a club legend.
His personal form reflects Manchester United’s poor season overall. The Red Devils finished 15th in the Premier League, their worst-ever league result, and were eliminated from the Europa League final by Tottenham Hotspur.
“It has been a tough season for all of us. Football is about the team. We win together, we lose together. We are not playing tennis at the end of the day. I’m very happy because it was a learning time. It was a learning time, we faced difficulties, we stayed together as a team. For me, this is the most important thing, so now we have to move on,” Onana said.
“Of course, it was a tricky period for me and for other players, but it’s not an excuse. It’s not today; it will be tomorrow. If it’s not tomorrow, it will be after tomorrow. We always have to be positive because life doesn’t stop,” he added.
Despite the tough times, Onana is focused on learning, improving, and staying optimistic for the future.