05 August 2023 , 14:11
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Manchester United's new goalkeeper Andre Onana's Old Trafford debut got off to a nightmare start when he was lobbed from just inside his own half against RC Lens.
The Cameroon international was appearing in front of his home fans for the first time during the pre-season clash against the French outfit, when 23 minutes in he was made to look foolish as he clawed at thin air trying to keep out Florian Sotoca's audacious effort.
The strike from range left Onana in a heap inside the United goal and put the Ligue 1 outfit in front, which remained the case for the remainder of the first half. Erik ten Hag fired his troops up for the second half and goals from Marcus Rashford, Antony and Casemiro helped spare their goalkeeper's blushes.
Many opposition fans have taken the opportunity to poke fun at Onana for getting caught well off his line, but the truth is that is simply a risk that comes with the 27-year-old's style of goalkeeping.
The former Ajax and Inter Milan ace is every inch a modern goalkeeper and is widely praised for his technical ability with the ball at his feet as well as his willingess to take risks to benefit his side, effectively operating as the first line of attack as well as the last line of defence.
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It is something that former United defender Rio Ferdinand has waxed lyrical about in the past, heaping praise on Onana for his style of play.
Andre Onana was beaten from the halfway line on his Old Trafford debutMirror Football is now on Threads! You can follow us here.
"He’ll give United more confidence and more ability to play out from the back and I think he suits an Erik ten Hag team," the former Red Devils defender told Vibe with FIVE. "He’s a real modern-day goalkeeper. You see teams pressing him and he doesn’t even panic.
"He gets the ball in, brings on the press says ‘Come on, come to me’ and when that player comes to him he knows there’s a player free somewhere else and he normally finds them."
Ferdinand did admit that mistakes would be part of the process for Onana, but what was seen against Lens was not so much a mistake and more just the risk United are exposed to when playing a goalkeeper of the former Serie A star's style.
The Red Devils legend added: "I think there will be mistakes and playing that risky way you do have mistakes and that happens, but it’s about staying true to your beliefs, finding the right balance and remaining calm throughout those periods."
The point still stands, if both Onana and Ten Hag remain calm and do not abandon the principles that have brought the Cameroon ace to Old Trafford for a £51million fee in the first place.