Former Premier League goalkeeper Michel Vorm has exclusively told Sports Mole that Manchester United shot-stopper Andre Onana has the attributes to succeed at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils lost for the 13th time in the top flight on Tuesday night against Nottingham Forest, losing 1-0 as a result of Anthony Elanga‘s fifth-minute winner.
Goalkeeper Onana was criticised for his positioning for Elanga’s shot, and the Cameroonian has often been the subject of scrutiny during his time in England as a result of high-profile errors.
Despite the shot-stopper’s troubles between the posts, Vorm insisted that the United number one is a talented goalkeeper, telling Sports Mole: “I watched Onana when he was playing for Ajax, and so I’ve followed him for quite long, and he has all the attributes to be an amazing goalkeeper.
“He’s very, very confident, and this is a big strength of him. He’s also – it sounds a bit strange – very confident to make a mistake and then just act like, ‘okay, we go on‘.
“It sounds a bit strange, but I’ve followed him for a long time. When you make a mistake and you win, it’s also different than when you make a mistake and you lose games. So, his style of play has always been the same.”
Onana was brought to the club from Inter Milan in the summer of 2023-24 as a ball-playing goalkeeper, and his playstyle is one that naturally entails risk.
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Why has Onana struggled?
Onana stood out in the 2023 Champions League final for Inter against Manchester City – with the ball at his feet in particular – but he has failed to live up to his reputation.
The 29-year-old has rarely showcased his passing ability, has struggled when claiming crosses and his positioning has at times been subpar.
Speaking to Sports Mole, Vorm argued that Onana may have encountered difficulties with the Red Devils due to the type of players around him, saying: “Here in the Premier League, when you are that type of goalkeeper and you play for a club like Man United, sometimes it’s very hard to, especially his style of play, to maintain a certain level, especially where Man United is at the moment.
“There’s not a lot of room for error. This is something I don’t really believe, that he struggles with the pressure of a big club, but this is the way he is as a goalkeeper. There’s always one or two mistakes, but it weighs a bit more heavier at the moment, especially when you play for Man United, than when you play for Ajax or Inter at the time.
“I rate him very much, and his big quality is that he’s so confident in every situation, but it backfires as well in a way, and this is something that’s interesting to see what happens till the end of the season.”
There is an argument that Onana has not had the chance to play in a settled environment given previous boss Erik ten Hag‘s system exposed the team to numerous shots, while current boss Ruben Amorim has struggled to implement his own style of play.
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Should Onana be given another chance?
Onana has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford in recent weeks, with reports suggesting that Ruben Amorim would like to replace him in the upcoming transfer window.
However, United will likely have to make numerous signings in order to compete for a spot in the Champions League next season, and perhaps signing another goalkeeper should not be seen as a priority.
When asked if United should stick with Onana and give him another chance, Vorm agreed and told Sports Mole: “Yeah. The thing is, I think he also showed that he has all the attributes that he’s an amazing goalkeeper, but if the team is struggling, sometimes you also need a little bit different from the goalkeeper.
“If you are in a very comfortable back four or back five – a comfortable team – it reflects on the goalkeeper, and this is at the moment [an uncomfortable defence]. It’s very hard to stand out in a team like Man United, especially as a goalkeeper.”
Amorim often asked his goalkeeper at Sporting Lisbon to step forward and become part of the backline in possession, and it will be interesting to see if the United boss signs players to facilitate this with Onana at Old Trafford.
Michel Vorm was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of 888sport.
