Man City boss Pep Guardiola has spoken out in support of the ‘exceptional’ Andre Onana ahead of Sunday’s big Premier League clash with derby rivals Manchester United.
Could that last-gasp penalty save against Copenhagen in midweek by the launchpad which sends Andre Onana’s Manchester United career into the stratosphere? Or is it merely a false dawn for a man who has suffered his fair share of high-profile mistakes since arriving at Old Trafford from Inter Milan over the summer?
Time will tell, of course.
Sunday’s derby clash with bitter rivals Manchester City will certainly offer Onana the chance to build on those European heroics, with Guardiola in no doubt about the talent of a man who’s shot-stopping and ball-playing stood out during June’s Champions League final in Istanbul.
Manchester United face City in derby clash
“He’s an exceptional player and now at United,” Guardiola tells the Manchester Evening News.
“Everyone needs time (to the Premier League). Not just the managers but players, keepers. Everyone. Sometimes people are quicker. But I have a high opinion of him as a keeper.”
As Erik ten Hag has been keen to point out recently, neither David de Gea nor Peter Schmeichel flew out of the blocks at the Red Devils. Now, alongside Edwin van der Sar, De Gea and Schmeichel comfortably rank among Man United’s greatest ever goalkeepers, a rather exclusive club Onana is hoping to break into.
“Hopefully we can beat him,” Guardiola adds of the one-time Ajax and Barcelona man. “But before the game I always expect the best of the players we are going to face. I prefer to see the strengths than the weakness they have.
“He saved a pen in the last minute which helped them to stay in contention to qualify for the last 16 (of the Champions League). Mentally, it’s a good boost for them.”
Pep Guardiola a big Andre Onana fan
Onana, even before his spot-kick heroics, had looked a man transformed following the international break.
He was impressive against Sheffield United and pulled off a superb reaction save just after half time in that Copenhagen clash too.
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