Peter Schmeichel admits he has ‘no idea’ how Andre Onana will fare at Manchester United and has told the goalkeeper he will face ‘relentless pressure’ at Old Trafford.
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United spent almost £50m to sign Onana from Serie A giants Inter Milan following David de Gea’s departure from the Theatre of Dreams.
De Gea was United’s No. 1 for more than a decade, making the most clean sheets in the club’s history and winning the Player of the Year award four times.
But Erik ten Hag opted to replace De Gea, who endured a mixed campaign last season, and bring in a more natural ball-playing goalkeeper in Onana.
The Cameroonian played under Ten Hag at Ajax and established himself as one of the most highly-rated goalkeepers in Europe during his brief spell at Inter Milan, helping the Italians reach last season’s Champions League final.
Schmeichel has described Onana as a ‘perfect fit’ for Ten Hag’s style of play but says he has ‘no idea’ if the 27-year-old will thrive at Manchester United.
‘I think Manchester United have done fantastic business, not just with the signings but also who has left,’ Schmeichel told BBC 5 Live Sport.
‘I have absolutely no bad words to say about David de Gea, he was a fantastic servant for the club and in a way I feel a bit sorry for him. He was left in a very tricky situation.
‘But Erik ten Hag wants to play in a certain way and Andre Onana is the perfect fit for that way of playing. He’s worked with him before so he knows what he’s like and he played really well for Ajax and Inter Milan.
‘But he’s at Manchester United now and I haven’t got any idea how he’s going to do for the club.
‘If he can produce the same form as last season he will be a fantastic asset to the team but we also know if he makes an early mistake, questions will be asked. And it’s not just questions, it’s pressure, it’s relentless pressure.
‘I have no idea how he’s going to handle that.’
Onana became Ten Hag’s second signing of the summer when he arrived at Old Trafford last month following England midfielder Mason Mount. Ex-Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund has also completed a move to Manchester.
United are expected to improve in Ten Hag’s second season at the club but Old Trafford legend Gary Neville has said he is ‘nervous’ about Onana and Hojlund ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
‘The reason I’m a little bit nervous about United’s season is that you’ve got these two unknowns at either end of the pitch that really have to hit it off for United to be better than last season,’ Neville said on Sky Bet’s The Overlap.
‘I’ve said it before I think it’s the toughest position in Premier League football, Manchester United’s goalkeeper.
‘You come under more scrutiny than any other player in English football if you’re United goalkeeper. I wish him all the best because he’s going to need that personality, that character because people will get onto him.
‘Every media organisation, every pundit, every fan from every other club, if he does make a mistake we know what’s going to happen on every single occasion.
‘And I think the lad at the other end as well, Hojlund, centre-forward for Manchester United. I think they’re the two position that will get put under most scrutiny and they’re the two that are really going to have to settle in.’
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