REVEALED: The Real Reason Behind André Onana’s Struggles at Manchester United

Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam has shared his thoughts on why goalkeeper André Onana is struggling under new manager Ruben Amorim.

United signed Onana from Inter Milan in the summer of 2023 to replace David de Gea. Erik ten Hag, who previously coached Onana at Ajax, was keen to bring him to Old Trafford because of his strong ability to play with the ball at his feet.

However, Onana’s time at United has been inconsistent. While he has had solid performances in the Premier League, his errors were a major factor in United’s early Champions League exit. Despite showing improvement towards the end of last season, his mistakes have returned, and some fans have even labeled him as “useless.” Reports suggest that United could look for a new goalkeeper in the summer transfer window.

Jaap Stam, a former United defender, still believes Onana is a “very good” goalkeeper but says his struggles may be linked to his role under Amorim.

Stam explained that when Onana first joined, he was expected to play out from the back, make short passes, and help build attacks. But now, he is being asked to kick the ball long more often instead of being involved in the team’s buildup play. This change, Stam believes, has made Onana feel “insecure” and less confident in his performances.

“Ten Hag wanted him to be confident with the ball, to distribute it, to dribble out of the box at times and make a pass,” Stam told casinobeats.com. “Now it seems like he has to kick it long a lot quicker. He’s not as involved in the buildup, and maybe that makes him more insecure.”

Stam also pointed out that a goalkeeper’s confidence depends on how well the defenders and midfielders position themselves for passes. If Onana doesn’t have good passing options, it affects his ability to play his natural game.

“It’s very important that defenders are positioned in a way that allows him to pass to them,” Stam added. “But I still think Onana is a great goalkeeper. He has great reflexes and reactions, though he might need to make better decisions at times. But that’s something all goalkeepers face at this level.”

Despite Onana’s struggles, it appears that Manchester United’s decision-makers are not actively looking to replace him yet. Journalist Fabrizio Romano recently reported that United’s management understands the entire squad has underperformed this season, making it difficult to judge individual players fairly.

Instead of focusing on replacing Onana, United will conduct a full squad evaluation in the summer to decide which positions need the most urgent reinforcements. The club has several areas to improve, and that could give Onana more time to prove himself at Old Trafford.