A Manchester United Legend Expresses Surprise at Andre Onana’s Struggles
Edwin van der Sar, a Manchester United legend and former Ajax sporting director, has expressed his surprise at how tough this season has been for current United goalkeeper Andre Onana. Having known Onana for years—especially from their time together at Ajax—Van der Sar says he’s confident the 29-year-old can bounce back despite the wave of criticism he’s been facing lately.
A Tough Season Filled with Mistakes
Onana hasn’t had it easy. He made headlines for all the wrong reasons after conceding four soft goals against Lyon in the Europa League quarter-final second leg. Even though United scraped through with a wild 7-6 win on aggregate, it wasn’t a good look. That performance came right after a public spat with Lyon and former United midfielder Nemanja Matic. Sadly, these kinds of errors haven’t been a one-off—he’s had a handful this season.
Onana joined Manchester United from Inter Milan last season for a massive AU$86 million. While he’s shown moments of brilliance—especially when playing out from the back—he’s also made the most mistakes that have led directly to goals of any Premier League goalkeeper since his arrival.
Van der Sar Still Sees the Potential
Van der Sar, who worked closely with Onana during his Ajax days, told Optus Sport’s Mark Schwarzer that he’s genuinely puzzled by how inconsistent Onana’s form has been. “He has tremendous qualities—he’s fast, he’s strong, and he’s got a good mentality,” Van der Sar said. “But yeah, I’m surprised how the season has gone. He’s made too many mistakes, and he knows he has to fix that.”
The Mental Toll and the Way Forward
Being a goalkeeper is no easy job. One mistake can define your entire performance, and goalies rarely get the praise when things go right. That pressure becomes even heavier in today’s social media world, where fans are quick to tear players apart without thinking twice about how it affects their mental health.
But Van der Sar believes Onana’s got the mental toughness to get through it. “I think he’s a strong character,” he said. “After the Lyon game, he bounced back with some solid saves. Your mental strength gets tested in times like this, but I truly believe he’ll overcome it. He’s got the right mindset, and he’s surrounded by people who believe in him.”
