‘Big keepers like Schmeichel and de Gea started not too good’ – ten Hag backs Onana to improve

Erik Ten Hag pointed to Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel’s start to life at the club as he defended Andre Onana following his poor form since joining United.

Onana has made notable mistakes against Brighton, Bayern Munich and Brentford after replacing David de Gea in the United goal following his transfer from Inter Milan in the summer.

But ten Hag says the starts both de Gea and Schmeichel, who won five Premier League titles with the club in the 1990s, made after joining shows Onana can still become a top player for United.

“He knows, we know he will do much better,” Ten Hag stressed of Onana, “and as every player who’s coming into the Premier League, you need an integration period. 

“Big United keepers like Peter Schmeichel, like David de Gea, they also started not too good. That is good for Andre to know- a little bit from history.”

Ten Hag believes that the transition of moving from the Serie A to the Premier League is the reason behind Onana’s disappointing start, and believes the quality he displayed during previous years will soon be on show once he settles into a new league. 

Ten Hag said: “He has to make his future by giving better performances. I’m sure he will do.  

“He showed it so many times in big clubs at Barcelona when he was young, Ajax, and Inter Milan too. 

“He was in the semi-final and final of the Champions League, he is a great player. I’m sure he will give us performances and I’m sure we will have a lot of joy from him.”