Andre Onana admits to Manchester United struggles ahead of FA Cup final at Wembley - 'I decided to stand up and fight'
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Published 24/05/2024 at 17:26 GMT
Andre Onana has spoken frankly about his difficult start to life at Old Trafford ahead of this Saturday's FA Cup final against Manchester City. Manchester United will head to Wembley as the underdogs after finishing eighth in the Premier League. He also shared his opinion on manager Eric ten Hag before backing Marcus Rashford to come back from missing out on Gareth Southgate's England squad.
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Andre Onana believes he had to fight for his Manchester United career despite arriving at Old Trafford as "the best goalkeeper in the world."
The Cameroon international joined The Red Devils from 20-time Serie A winners Inter Milan having helped The Nerazzurri to the 2023 UEFA Champions League final.
However, the 28-year-old came under criticism at points throughout the 2023/24 campaign and was often caught in the shadow of former United goalkeeper David de Gea, who left the club last summer.
Onana insists he refused to give up despite some difficult moments during his first season in England.
"I arrived as the best goalkeeper in the world and ‘boom’ it went down," Onana said. "It was like ‘what happened?’
“But that is how difficult football is sometimes.
"It depends if you want to stay down there or stand up and fight.
"I know what I did to arrive here. I know who I am. I decided to stand up and fight.”
United will face rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday with manager Erik ten Hag under pressure after an eighth-placed finish in the Premier League.
Onana worked under Ten Hag at their former club Ajax and was quick to defend the Dutchman after weeks of speculation about his future.
“I’m not here to back him because he is big enough to back himself,” he said.
“But he is a really good guy, a positive coach and tactically he is good.
“If he had all his squad together, it would probably be different for him, for us, the club and the fans.
“We know how good City are. They are the best team at the moment, and we lost twice to them already.
“But we are motivated. Beating them would not make it a successful season.
"Playing for this club, I do not think winning the FA Cup is enough.
“But it would make things look better. We go there to win.”
Onana had a difficult job on his hands towards the end of the season, with first-choice centre-backs Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez out injured.
Defensive midfielder Casemiro and 36-year-old Jonny Evans were deployed in their place as United struggled towards the end of the season, including a 4-0 defeat against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
However, Onana insists that he is happy to face more shots if it means United are playing on the front foot.
“I do not mind facing 20 or 30 shots,” he said.
“I am very happy with what my team-mates are doing because a lot of them make sacrifices for the team.
“It would be nice to have everyone back, but what can we do? Hide? We are a big club.
"We have to go on the front foot and deal with difficulties. I am positive. I know things will get better. If not today, tomorrow.”
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Onana is not the only United player to have come under criticism this season.
Marcus Rashford was left out of Gareth Southgate's provisional England squad for Euro 2024.
However, Onana believes his United team-mate is one of the best players in the world.
“We are talking about the same player,” he added.
"So now he is a bad player?
"No. You can have a bad season or a bad start, but the most important thing is how you end.
“Rashy, for me, is one of the best players in the world. But he is facing difficulties.
"It’s not only him and me but the whole club.
“But he will come back. I know my killer will score some important goals for us.
"Hopefully, against City, he will score two and we win the FA Cup.”
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