That’s the bold claim from former United midfielder Nemanja Matic, who recently said that Onana is the worst goalkeeper in the club’s history. Since joining at the start of last season, Onana has had a tough time, making several high-profile mistakes and struggling to be consistent. His ability to organize the defense has also faced some criticism. But is Matic right? Can we really call Onana the worst goalkeeper the club has ever had in the Premier League era? United’s Worst Goalkeeper Ever?
Onana’s Stats Don’t Look Great On paper, some of Onana’s stats raise eyebrows. He has the worst minutes-per-goal-conceded record of all Manchester United goalkeepers in the Premier League, letting in a goal every 63 minutes. That’s not great compared to legends like David de Gea, Edwin van der Sar, or Peter Schmeichel. For example, Mark Bosnich, who played 23 times and won the league in 1999-2000, conceded every 89 minutes. Roy Carroll has the best record, allowing a goal every 152 minutes, while Ben Foster had clean sheets in half of his 12 league matches. United’s Worst Goalkeeper Ever?
Context Is Key for Onana But stats alone don’t tell the whole story. Many of the goalkeepers mentioned played during United’s glory days when the team was winning titles. Onana, on the other hand, is part of a squad that’s had its struggles, often finishing outside the top four and facing defensive issues. Naturally, a keeper in a struggling team is going to face more shots and chances to concede.
Onana’s Shot-Stopping Skills Are Solid Even with those numbers, Onana stands out in one area. He leads all United goalkeepers from the past 20 years (who’ve played at least 900 minutes) with 3.4 saves per game. His save percentage is 70.1%, slightly less than David de Gea’s 72%. Anders Lindegaard has the lowest stats, with just 2.3 saves per game and a save rate of 67.2%. This shows that while Onana gives up more goals, he’s also working harder than many goalkeepers before him.
Bosnich Faced Criticism Too It’s worth mentioning that Onana isn’t the only one who’s faced harsh words. United legend Paul Scholes once slammed Mark Bosnich for his efforts, saying he was wiped out after just three shots in training. Even Sir Alex Ferguson was not happy with his signing, calling Bosnich “the worst professional he’s ever seen” in his autobiography.
Conclusion: The Debate Is Ongoing Whether Onana is the worst goalkeeper in Manchester United history is up for debate. The stats can be interpreted in different ways. While Matic firmly believes in his view, the bigger picture shows it’s more complicated. A goalkeeper’s performance relies heavily on the quality of the defense, the strength of the team, and the time they’re playing in. So, while Onana has had his fair share of troubles, calling him the worst might be a bit much.
