Andre Onana Commits To 'Stand Up And Fight' Following Manchester United Critique

Andre Onana has expressed his determination to overcome challenges after a difficult start at Manchester United. The Red Devils are gearing up to face Manchester City in the FA Cup final for the second consecutive season on Saturday, following a disappointing campaign that saw them finish in their lowest-ever Premier League position.

Throughout the season, several players faced criticism for their performances, with Onana being one of them. The goalkeeper, who joined from Inter last July, replaced David de Gea but struggled initially. Despite the criticism, Onana remained resolute. "I arrived as the best goalkeeper in the world and 'boom' it went down. It was like 'What happened?'," he said. "But that is how difficult football is sometimes. It depends if you want to stay down there or stand up and fight. I know what I did to arrive here. I know who I am. I decided to stand up and fight."

Happy camp! #MUFC || #FACup pic.twitter.com/obQIP4ZDo4

Onana also drew parallels between his situation and that of team-mate Marcus Rashford, who was excluded from Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2024 after scoring just eight goals this season. "We are talking about the same player [Rashford]. So now he's a bad player? No. You can have a bad season or a bad start, but the most important thing is how you end," he added. "Rashy, for me, is one of the best players in the world. But he is facing difficulty. It's not only him and me, but the whole club. But he will come back. I know my killer will score some important goals for us. Hopefully, against City, he will score two, and we win the FA Cup."

Speculation surrounds the future of Erik ten Hag, with reports suggesting he could be dismissed regardless of Saturday's result. Onana has voiced his support for his manager, with whom he worked at Ajax for five years. "I'm not here to back him because he's big enough to back himself, but he's a really good guy, a positive coach and, tactically, he is good," said Onana. "If he had all his squad together, it would probably be different for him, for us, the club and the fans."