Ruben Amorim 'really confident' in Andre Onana despite Manchester United goalkeeper's costly mistakes in UEFA Europa League clash with Lyon
ByOli Gent
Published 11/04/2025 at 08:45 GMT+1
Ruben Amorim has said that he is "really confident" in Andre Onana despite the Manchester United goalkeeper making two costly errors in the Red Devils' 2-2 draw with Lyon in the UEFA Europa League. Onana let Thiago Almada's free kick go straight in in the first half, before he spilled a shot that Rayan Cherki tucked away from the rebound late on to deny United what would have been a crucial win.
'We continue to do the same thing' - Amorim appears to rule out dropping Onana
Video credit: TNT Sports
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has defended his goalkeeper Andre Onana after the Cameroonian's two mistakes in the 2-2 draw with Lyon in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.
Onana let a Thiago Almada cross from a free-kick go straight in for the French side's opener at the Groupama Stadium, before he spilled a shot straight into the path of Rayan Cherki, who equalised late on to salvage a draw for Paulo Fonseca's side to take to Old Trafford.
Onana was always going to be under the microscope on Thursday night in the Europa League quarter-final after a comment made by former United midfielder Nemanja Matic, who called Onana "statistically one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United history".
Onana fired back, saying that he would "never be disrespectful to another club", and "at least I’ve lifted trophies with the greatest club in the world. Some can’t say the same".
However, the pressure seemed to have told, with Onana's two errors costing United what would have been a precious lead to have taken into the second leg.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, United head coach Amorim stuck by his goalkeeper, reaffirming his confidence in the former Ajax shot-stopper.
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"There's nothing I can say to Andre in this moment that will help him," Amorim said.
"The most important thing is to be natural and then when the time comes, I will choose the best XI to play. But I'm really confident in Andre.
"We continue to do the same thing. Training, seeing the games, trying to choose the best 11 to win every match."
At his post-match press conference, Amorim insisted that he himself had "made more mistakes" than Onana and his players over the course of his first term at the helm.
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Highlights: Onana errors hand Lyon draw against Man Utd
Video credit: TNT Sports
"It can happen," he said.
"If you play football, a lot of games, you can make mistakes. If you look at the season, I've made more mistakes than them in these last games and during this last month.
"The best thing is to look at the goals [that Onana conceded], the actions that Andre had in the game, and to talk to the [goalkeeping coaches]. That's the best thing to do, to help every player to show what happened in the game and what we need to improve, and then put it to the player again."
United had been struggling to score goals before arriving in France for their crucial European tie, but they struck twice, first through Leny Yoro's header to level the scores, and Joshua Zirkzee stepped off the bench to nod home what he thought would be the match-winner on 87 minutes.
However, Onana's mistake allowed Cherki to add his name to the scoresheet and leave the tie finely poised heading back to Manchester.
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Should United progress into the last four, they will face the winner of Athletic Bilbao and Rangers, who drew 0-0 in the opening leg of their last eight tie.
Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur needed a moment of magic from Pedro Porro to earn a 1-1 draw at home to Eintracht Frankfurt, and Ange Postecoglou's side head to Germany next week needing a win to reach the semi-finals.
Stream the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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