Frank Christian
Andre Onana is proving his value to Manchester United, as noted by legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.
Since joining from Inter Milan at the beginning of last season, Onana has faced several challenges, and currently, Erik ten Hag’s team is in a difficult position, sitting 14th in the Premier League, where criticism is common among players.
Despite these struggles, the 28-year-old found a bright spot in an otherwise tough season by earning the Premier League Save of the Month award for September.
Onana earned this recognition for his outstanding double save during United’s 0-0 match against Crystal Palace. He first denied Eddie Nketiah’s late effort by diving to his left before quickly reacting to prevent Ismaila Sarr’s follow-up shot.
This second save showcased the quick reflexes and commanding presence reminiscent of Schmeichel’s peak performances, who commended Onana in an interview on the Premier League’s official site.
“You wouldn’t expect it to go through Matthijs de Ligt’s legs; he had to react and make a strong save. The recovery was incredible. A very impressive save. He is stepping up and earning points for his team,” Schmeichel remarked.
This remarkable save contributed to one of four clean sheets Onana has achieved this season, placing him in the lead for the Golden Glove early on. It’s worth considering how much worse United’s predicament might be without Onana’s reliable performances as Ten Hag’s top goalkeeper.
