Andre Onana’s recent performance in the Europa League has come under intense scrutiny following a series of costly mistakes that led to Manchester United being held to a 2-2 draw by Lyon. The Cameroon goalkeeper’s blunders, which contributed directly to both goals conceded, have sparked sharp criticism, with Manchester United legend Paul Scholes leading the charge.
Onana, who joined United from Inter Milan, was heavily at fault for the opening goal when he flapped at a cross that had eluded the Lyon attackers. The ball bounced over him and into the net, handing Lyon a 1-0 lead. Scholes was critical of the goalkeeper’s handling, pointing out that it was a “huge mistake.” While acknowledging the difficulty of the situation, Scholes stressed that Onana should have done better in this instance.
The Red Devils had an opportunity to respond, but the situation only worsened for Onana as he again made a critical error in the final moments of the match. In the 95th minute, Onana failed to deal with a shot from Georges Mikautadze, spilling it and allowing Rayan Cherki to tap in the rebound, securing a late equalizer for Lyon. This blunder effectively robbed United of an away advantage and left them facing a tense second-leg tie at Old Trafford.
Scholes, reflecting on the match, noted that while Lyon deserved credit for their performance—having created numerous chances throughout the game—United’s inability to take advantage of Onana’s mistakes left them in a precarious position. He acknowledged that the Red Devils were still in a favorable position for the return leg but warned that they would need to improve if they hoped to advance.
In the wake of the match, Onana’s poor display was compounded by criticism from former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic. The Serbian, who left the club in 2022, had previously labeled Onana as “one of the worst goalkeepers” in the club’s history, a comment that stirred up tension between the two. Onana, who had claimed ahead of the game that Manchester United were “better than” Lyon, had hoped to prove Matic wrong with a commanding performance. Instead, his errors only served to validate Matic’s harsh assessment.
Onana’s struggles in the Europa League tie came after an already challenging period for the goalkeeper, whose form had been inconsistent since arriving at Manchester United. His errors against Lyon have raised doubts about his suitability for the starting role, and coach Ruben Amorim now faces a difficult decision regarding his future in the team. Onana’s understudy, Altay Bayindir, recently returned to the bench after a lengthy injury layoff, and Amorim may be forced to consider a change between the posts for upcoming matches.
Looking ahead, Manchester United faces a tough test in the Premier League, with a high-flying Newcastle side next on the schedule. The pressure will be on Onana to improve, but with a growing number of critics and the possibility of a rotation in goalkeeping duties, his position is becoming increasingly uncertain.
Despite his errors, Onana remains a highly talented shot-stopper, and with time, he may yet regain the confidence of both his teammates and supporters. However, with United’s recent poor form in the competition and the looming challenge of maintaining their position in the league, the pressure is mounting on the goalkeeper to deliver more consistent performances moving forward.
