Carragher Criticizes Man Utd Star's Performances
Jamie Carragher expresses his concerns about Andre Onana's performance as a youth team player.
Andre Onana's Mistakes in Champions League Draw
Jamie Carragher, a pundit for Sky Sports, has criticized Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana for his performance in the recent Champions League draw against Galatasaray. Onana made errors for the first two goals conceded by United, allowing relatively tame free-kicks from Hakim Ziyech to beat him. Carragher argues that if Onana was a youth team player, he would likely never feature again after such a performance.
Carragher goes on to mention that Onana has been under scrutiny since joining United and has made a number of mistakes in previous matches as well. The pundit cites the poor performance against Bayern Munich in the opening group game and the costly mistakes against Galatasaray as clear examples of Onana's inability to meet the standards expected of a Manchester United goalkeeper.
The comparison Carragher draws is significant, as he states that if an Under-18 goalkeeper were to play like Onana did in the Champions League draw, they would most likely never have another chance to play for the first team. Carragher believes that Onana has cost United too many cheap goals and his reputation as a liability will take a long time to overcome.
The Need for Ruthlessness
Carragher suggests that Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, should learn from the approach of former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and be ruthless in his treatment of Onana. He argues that Ferguson never hesitated to make changes in the goalkeeping position if he believed the goalkeeper was costing the team games. Carragher mentions examples such as Jim Leighton, Massimo Taibi, Mark Bosnich, and Fabian Barthez, who were all replaced by Ferguson due to their performances.
The pundit emphasizes that it doesn't matter if a goalkeeper is signed for a decent fee or considered the number one choice - if they cannot meet the required level, they should be replaced. Carragher believes that Ten Hag should consider this approach and take decisive action if he wants to improve the team's performance and results.
Scrutiny and Expectations at Manchester United
Carragher acknowledges that the criticism towards Onana is not meant to be cruel, but rather a reflection of the high standards expected at Manchester United. He states that playing for such a prestigious club comes with a level of scrutiny that cannot be avoided. The stakes are high, especially in important fixtures like the one against Galatasaray, and small margins can determine the outcome of these matches.
On a personal level, Carragher expresses sympathy towards Onana and acknowledges the challenge he faces in overcoming his reputation as a liability. However, he firmly believes that at the top level of the professional game, there is no room for complacency, especially in the goalkeeper position. Carragher concludes by emphasizing the importance of meeting the expected standards and the consequences that follow for failing to do so.
