Erik ten Hag sets challenge for Andre Onana over Man Utd form
- Onana has made several mistakes in United's goal following big-money move
- The Cameroonian saved stoppage-time penalty in win over Kobenhavn to ignite Red Devils career
- Erik ten Hag backs Onana to reach the required standard
By Sean Walsh
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says Andre Onana has the skills and ability to succeed at Old Trafford but must maintain a high level of performance because "good is not good enough."
Onana was signed as the Red Devils' long-term replacement to club legend David de Gea during the summer transfer window for an initial fee of £43.7m from Inter, reuniting with Ten Hag having previously worked together at Ajax.
The Cameroonian was a crucial part of the Nerazzurri's run to the 2022/23 Champions League final and expectations were high upon his arrival at Old Trafford.
However, Onana's United career so far has been defined by various errors and mistakes, while there has also been mounting speculation that fan favourite De Gea could return to the club.
Onana now has a great chance to flip the narrative about his time at United after saving a 97th-minute penalty in their 1-0 win against Kobenhavn in the Champions League on Tuesday night, receiving widespread praise for his last-gasp heroics.
At a press conference prior to facing rivals Manchester City on Sunday, Ten Hag was asked about Onana's upturn in form.
"You give him the standards and also the expectations, but also it's about getting to the same level. He has high expectations from himself. We give him the confidence, look what you did in the past for great clubs in great leagues, you have the ability and the skills," Ten Hag said.
"The last two games were good progress, now we have to keep this going. It's very good, but at Manchester United, good is not good enough."
United head into the derby having won three successive games for the first time since the very end of the 2022/23 Premier League season.
Prior to the October international break, United scored twice in second half stoppage time to beat Brentford 2-1. They returned to action by winning at Sheffield United by the same scoreline before seeing off Kobenhavn in midweek.
Though United did not perform particularly well in any of those victories, Ten Hag insists there is still value in winning in those circumstances.
"That’s definitely to see we are back where we wanted to be, this is a hard team to beat. They find a way to win, we're going in the right direction," he added.
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