Man Utd star hits back at jeering fans after stinging Gary Neville criticism | Football

Andre Onana has risked the wrath of Manchester United fans by saying he will continue to slow down the tempo of matches even if he is jeered by supporters.

This comes after Gary Neville criticised the goalkeeper’s approach in Sunday’s Manchester derby, saying: ‘That’s not what we do here.’

The goalless draw with Manchester City was a lifeless affair with Neville, on commentary for Sky Sports, calling it ‘disappointing’ and ‘depressing’.

The Red Devils legend singled Onana out for dithering on the ball, while throughout the match, the Old Trafford faithful let their feelings know by jeering and groaning at the Cameroonian.

‘United’s goalkeeper rolling his foot on the ball and waiting for things to happen. That’s not it, that’s not what this club is, that’s not what we do here,’ Neville said post-match.

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‘Liverpool don’t do that. You’ve got to be a top team with tempo in your play, rhythm in your play, get the ball moving, shift it quickly.’

But that message has not been received by Onana, who says he will not annoyed fans alter his tactics: ‘To be honest, it doesn’t affect me because the decision I make is to help the team.

‘Sometimes I will make the right decision, sometimes I will make the wrong decision, when I feel my players need to rest I have to take my time, when I feel we need to speed up the game I will do it.

‘But sometimes, especially in the second half with an opponent that has a lot of control, they have more possession than us, I have to let my guys breathe.

‘They need me to do that. If the team needs to speed up the game, I will do it. I try to make the best decision for the team.’

Onana has been under intense criticism at United, with the decision to sign him for £47million and let David de Gea go for free labelled ‘one of the biggest transfer mistakes in Premier League history’.

There are even rumours that Ruben Amorim wants to replace the 29-year-old, but for now he’s focused on winning the Europa League, with the first-leg of their quarter-final against Lyon on Thursday.

As well as a trophy, victory in Europe is United’s only chance of qualifying for the Champions League.

‘[Lyon] is a very good team, we know some of them but I don’t think we have to focus about them,’ Onana added.

‘It’s more about us, what we’re going to do, I think we are better than them, we just have to go there and show who we are.

‘If we go there with a winning mentality and we are focused, stay compact and together and we follow the game plan we will be winning the game. Of course, It’s not going to be easy, but I think we are way better than them.’

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