Andre Onana has conceded 18 goals in 10 games for Man Utd so far (Photo: Getty)
Erik ten Hag was once again at Andre Onana’s defence after the Manchester United goalkeeper’s latest howler cost them dear in the Champions League.
Despite leading twice, United lost 3-2 to Galatasaray on Tuesday night, to make it six defeats out of their first 10 games of the season.
Summer signing Onana has been in-between the sticks for every match, and had kept just three clean sheets so far, conceding 18 goals in the process.
Ten Hag was determined to sign his former Ajax star and splashed over £47million to prize him from Inter, with club legend David de Gea controversially released despite winning the Premier League golden glove last season.
So far, this decision has been nothing short of a disaster, with the Cameroon international making numerous errors and looking unconvincing as a shot-stopper.
He could have done far more to prevent two of Galatasaray’s goals, while he was at fault for conceding a penalty and getting Casemiro sent off, after he gifted the ball to an opposition player while trying to play out from the back.
Many fans have already run out of patience with the keeper, yet Ten Hag is sticking by his man, though admitted he would be having words with him over his performance.
‘I have to talk with more players, and Andre of course,’ the manager said post-match.
‘I will encourage him and back him. He’s a great goalkeeper. We have to settle down and look forward.
‘The mental errors we make, you cannot allow them at this level. You get punished. This is difficult to control.
Erik ten Hag ‘understands’ why Man Utd fans’ jeers (Photo: Getty)
‘We are all in this together. We were twice up and in control of the game. We expect more together.’
Following defeats at Old Trafford this season, the home fans have loudy booed the team off the pitch, something Ten Hag admits he ‘understands’.
‘Yes I can understand. They can expect, I am responsible for this team, for the performance, for the result – together with my squad,’ he added.
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‘In this moment we don’t get the results and they are then disappointed, I can understand that. Yeah, we have to do better.
‘But, as I said, I have seen a team with a great spirit. And also, a team that was backed by the crowd from the start until the end. Of course, in the end the fans are disappointed just as we are. We are very disappointed.
‘But also that has to be fuel. That is the good thing about this team, every time they find the energy in every game, in every start of a game, there has been a team with a lot of energy, with a good motivation to go into the game.’
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