October 5th 2023.
Dimitar Berbatov has urged Andre Onana to find a balance between his extravagant goalkeeping style and a more risk-averse approach to his Manchester United career. Since joining the club, the Cameroon international has been at fault for a number of high-profile errors, most recently during Tuesday's Champions League defeat against Galatasaray at Old Trafford.
Berbatov believes that Onana needs to restore confidence in his abilities by toning down his risk-taking and being more aware of the players he is playing against. When asked about the 27-year-old, Berbatov told Betfair that “goalkeepers are a different breed in a way” and that “sometimes, he forgets that he’s playing smart players." He went on to explain that “other players will be studying how Onana plays, and they will bait him into playing certain passes”.
The former Inter and Ajax goalkeeper was signed with the intention of accelerating Erik ten Hag's plan to build a side capable of playing out from the back. Berbatov is confident that Onana can still succeed in this role, but he believes that the goalkeeper must maintain his confidence while being mindful of the context in which he is playing.
“I’ve watched Onana play before, and he’s always been the same and I like that. Nowadays, you must play out from the back so it’s good to have Onana because he’s good with the ball at his feet." He added, “Having said that, I’ve played football myself and confidence can sometimes play tricks on you and cause you to make mistakes.”
Berbatov is confident that Onana can still make a success of his Manchester United career, despite his current struggles. He concluded his statement by saying that “Man United signed Onana for a reason. He’s a great goalkeeper and he’ll continue to play the way he has been because Erik ten Hag loves that type of football.”
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