Pressure has continued to build around Andre Onana at Manchester United, but former club legend Edwin van der Sar has publicly come to the defense of the goalkeeper amid growing criticism from sections of the fanbase.
As mistakes during the season have placed Onana under intense scrutiny, Van der Sar believes the reaction from some supporters may be overlooking the goalkeeper’s proven track record at the highest level.
The Cameroonian international has experienced a challenging campaign, with several high-profile errors drawing widespread attention from fans, pundits, and the media. Some of those mistakes have proven costly, directly influencing the outcomes of certain matches.
As a result, questions have begun to surface among supporters about whether Onana is the right long-term solution between the posts for Manchester United.
Despite the growing doubts, Van der Sar has expressed surprise that Onana’s abilities are now being questioned so strongly.
The former United goalkeeper knows Onana well from their time together at AFC Ajax, where Van der Sar served in a senior leadership role while Onana established himself as one of Europe’s most promising and technically gifted goalkeepers.
According to the Dutch legend, the current criticism does not fully reflect the qualities that made Onana stand out during his earlier years.
During his time in Amsterdam, Onana earned widespread praise for his composure on the ball, sharp reflexes, and ability to contribute to his team’s build-up play from the back.
One of the defining moments of his career came during Ajax’s remarkable run to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in the 2018–19 season.
That campaign saw the Dutch club eliminate some of Europe’s biggest teams while playing an exciting attacking style of football, and Onana’s performances in goal were widely recognized as a key part of that success.
Those displays helped establish his reputation as one of the most reliable and modern goalkeepers in European football.
His confidence with the ball at his feet, combined with his shot-stopping ability, made him highly sought after by major clubs across the continent. Eventually, his career path led him from Ajax to Inter Milan before he completed a move to Manchester United.
However, adapting to life at Old Trafford has not been straightforward. Since joining the English club, Onana has faced several difficult moments during matches.
Some errors have occurred while attempting to play out from the back, while others have involved questionable decisions in goal that allowed opponents to capitalize.
At a club with the global profile and expectations of Manchester United, those kinds of mistakes inevitably attract intense criticism.
The reaction among supporters has therefore become mixed. Some fans continue to trust Van der Sar’s assessment and remain hopeful that Onana can regain the confidence and consistency that once made him one of the most admired goalkeepers in Europe.
Others, however, feel that repeated errors have made it difficult to maintain patience, particularly when every dropped point can affect the club’s ambitions in domestic and European competitions.
Goalkeepers often operate under a unique level of pressure compared to outfield players. A striker may miss several chances in a match without the same level of backlash, but a single mistake by a goalkeeper can immediately lead to a goal and dominate the headlines afterward.
This reality means that performances in the position are frequently judged more harshly than elsewhere on the pitch.
Van der Sar’s public support reflects a belief that Onana still possesses the talent and mentality required to succeed at the highest level.
The former United star is confident that the Cameroonian’s previous achievements demonstrate his true ability, suggesting that the current struggles may simply represent a difficult phase rather than a permanent decline.
Ultimately, the coming weeks could prove crucial for Onana’s future at Manchester United. If he can rediscover the form that once made him a standout performer in European football, the criticism may fade and confidence could return.
If the errors continue, however, the debate over his long-term role at the club is likely to intensify even further.
