Manchester United suffered a 3-0 against Manchester City at Old Trafford yesterday in their fifth Premier League defeat of 2023-24, but they could have shipped more goals had Andre Onana not made some incredible saves.
However, former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer believes the Cameroon international goalkeeper should have done better to prevent the visitors from scoring their third goal.
Onana parried Rodri’s shot from outside the box into the path of Erling Braut Haaland, and the Man City hitman passed to Phil Foden to allow the England international slot into an empty net from a very close range.
The Man United goalie was helpless to prevent the goal, but Shearer reckons he could have done better with Rodri’s shot in the first place.
“The goalkeeper – I mean I know he pulled off a couple of good saves today but what was he doing for the third goal?,” the former Three Lions star said on the Rest is Football podcast.
Onana punching the ball into the path of Haaland did not help matters, and a goalkeeper of his quality and experience should be doing better.
Preventing Man City from scoring the third goal would not have saved Man United as they did not threaten at the other end.
The hosts attempted just seven shots, with three hitting the target, while Pep Guardiola’s side hit the target with ten of their 21 attempts.
The gulf in quality between both sides was clear as day, and Onana could not have done any better.
His defence and manager Erik ten Hag’s style of play let him down, and while he has not covered himself in glory since joining from Inter Milan this summer following several howlers and gaffes, Onana cannot be blamed for yesterday’s defeat.
He was the best Man United player against Man City, making seven saves – three to deny Haaland.
Onana also made 55 touches with 32 successful passes and seven long balls, and he will hope to keep impressing regularly and improving.
