Connect with us

General Football

Gary Neville is unconvinced about the ball-playing abilities of Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana

Gary Neville has blasted Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana for failing to impress with his ball-playing abilities against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The Cameroon international tried to find a teammate with a long pass during the closing stages of the first half, but Chris Wood – who was standing a good 10 yards or so back – took it straight to the head.

Luckily for the Man United star, the block from the Forest star fell to Raphael Varane after looping high into the air.

Neville was unimpressed with the nervous display from Onana, questioning his ability on the ball.

“Onana came with a reputation for being really good on the ball but l just don’t think he is that good on the ball,” the former Red Devils star said while on punditry duty on Sky Sports. “He is so erratic.”

The 27-year-old established himself as a ball-playing goalie having spent time in the famous Barcelona academy before joining Ajax.

He moved to Inter Milan and was splendid with the ball at his feet during the final of the Champions League against Manchester City last season.

However, he has failed to reproduce those heroics and has largely struggled with some of the basics of goalkeeping.

Onana is yet to commit an error directly leading to a goal this term, but he has not been very confident with playing out from the back and has been a shadow of his former self.

He has also conceded goals an average goalkeeper is expected to save comfortably, and he needs to become more consistent.

Onana will be off to the Africa Cup of Nations next month, and Altay Bayindir is expected to replace him in goal.

The Turkey international will be desperate to seize his chance, having not played for Man United since joining in the summer.

Some impressive performances from him could force manager Erik ten Hag to have a rethink concerning his first-choice goalie.