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Manchester United star Andre Onana leads the Premier League in minutes performed this season, whereas his captain Bruno Fernandes is fourth.
The Cameroon goalkeeper joined Milan from Manchester United for £47.2million final summer time, changing long-time primary David De Gea at Previous Trafford. Having beforehand performed below Eric ten Hag at Ajax, Onana was seen by the Dutchman as an vital a part of his deliberate growth for the United group, given De Gea's weak point in possession; One space Onana prospers.
Nevertheless, regardless of a match-winning efficiency on his debut at Previous Trafford in opposition to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Onana's first few months in England had been nothing in need of disastrous.
Whereas his league type was considerably patchy, with the 27-year-old usually being crushed too simply by opposition strikers, it was in Europe the place the goalkeeper's contribution proved decisive – in a adverse means.
Onana made disastrous errors in nearly each Champions League group sport for United; Which frequently proved essential in his group shedding video games.
In a single match specifically – a match in opposition to Galatasaray on the hostile Reims Park stadium – the Cameroon worldwide embarrassingly conceded two objectives to the Turkish facet after United had themselves gone 2–0 up. Regardless of United taking the lead on three separate events, the match completed 3–3, leaving the Reds with the unattainable process of reaching the knock-out phases.
It will not be an exaggeration to say that Onana single-handedly took United out of the competitors early.
However, since this departure in December, the goalkeeper has turned issues round significantly, and has put in a variety of extremely spectacular performances because the flip of the yr. Onana is second within the Premier League for clear sheets, regardless of a revolving door of a again 4 in entrance of him, on account of an nearly unimaginable damage disaster in defence.
His distribution, which is why the membership focused him within the first place, has additionally improved considerably, with United's attackers usually discovering themselves in one-on-one conditions within the opposition half following Paul Scholes-esque long-range passes by their goalkeeper. Discover. ,
Merely put, Onana has discovered his ft at Previous Trafford and his type has improved together with it. And that's pushed by Ten Hag's continued confidence of their goalkeeper – mirrored in Onana taking part in essentially the most minutes within the league this yr.
These boys have actually reworked their golf equipment this season 👍😮💨 pic.twitter.com/BKWrpRwOT3
– The Solar Soccer ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) 23 March 2024
Maybe much more spectacular than Onana's minutes, nevertheless, are these of Fernandes.
A goalkeeper will usually prime this chart, because the place is way much less bodily demanding than an outfield function. That's why the minutes of Fernandes – an attacking midfielder within the heart of his group who usually leads United's press – are stunning.
However, for a participant who has by no means missed a membership sport on account of damage Full Profession, perhaps it shouldn't be this. And, given the damage disaster that has beset Ten Hag's facet this season, this energy of Fernandes – his dependable availability – doesn’t get sufficient recognition.
In a season outlined by absences, one of many causes holding United afloat is the present pairing of Onana and Fernandes.
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