Manchester United’s Europa League victory over Viktoria Plzen on Thursday night was overshadowed by another high-profile mistake from goalkeeper Andre Onana. While Rasmus Højlund’s heroics secured the 2-1 win, Onana’s misstep once again raised concerns about his reliability in crucial moments.
A Recurring Issue
With the game goalless, Onana’s attempt to pass out to Matthijs de Ligt was intercepted, leading to Matej Vydra’s goal. This marked Onana’s second costly error in consecutive games, following a poor display against Nottingham Forest, where he misjudged a shot from Morgan Gibbs-White.
Although Onana has kept more clean sheets than any other Premier League goalkeeper this season, his high-profile mistakes—such as the ones against Galatasaray last season—continue to draw criticism.
Backing From His Captain
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes came to Onana’s defense, emphasizing the team’s collective responsibility:
“It is not about Andre making the mistake… We trust his qualities on the ball. Mistakes are part of football.”
Amorim’s System: High Risk, High Reward
Manager Rúben Amorim’s possession-based philosophy emphasizes playing out from the back, a style that inherently invites risky moments. Onana’s ball-playing ability is central to this system, but it requires synchronized movement and awareness from defenders, which has occasionally been lacking.
Former United midfielder Owen Hargreaves criticized De Ligt’s hesitancy in the buildup to Viktoria Plzen’s goal, while Karen Carney pointed out Lisandro Martínez’s slow pass and De Ligt’s reluctance to receive the ball under pressure.
The Verdict
While Onana’s errors have been glaring, they also reflect the challenges of adapting to Amorim’s demanding style. His ability with the ball is undeniable, and as Karen Carney noted, he’s arguably better with his feet than some of United’s defenders.
Whether Onana is part of the problem or the solution depends on the team’s ability to adapt to Amorim’s system and provide the support the goalkeeper needs to thrive. For now, his strengths still make him a valuable asset, but consistency will be key to silencing his critics.