How bad is Onana in the Champions League?

The 3-3 draw with Galatasaray on November 29 marked the latest disaster in a series of errors by goalkeeper Andrea Onana, putting Man Utd at risk of being eliminated from this season's Champions League.

Last season, Onana conceded only 11 goals as Inter finished second in the Champions League. This is the reason why Man Utd did not renew the contract of David De Gea - the only player left from the Sir Alex Ferguson era - to make way for Onana for 54 million USD from Inter Milan in the summer of 2023. However, the Cameroon goalkeeper has not met expectations, and even made many mistakes in the Champions League.

Onana himself admitted that "the start in Manchester was not as good as expected" when made a mistake from Leroy Sane's shot in the opening match, losing 3-4 at Bayern. In the defeat to Galatasaray at Old Trafford, the 27-year-old goalkeeper made a wrong pass, causing Casemiro to receive a red card and then dived too early for Mauro Icardi's decisive goal.

Onana conceded the second goal in the match Man Utd drew 3-3 with host Galatasaray at Ali Sami Yen Stadium in the fifth round of Group A of the Champions League on November 29. Photo: Reuters

Most recently, in the rematch against Galatasaray in Turkey, Onana continued to make mistakes and conceded two goals from Hakim Ziyech's weak and dangerous free kicks. According to Sky Sports , Ziyech's first free kick had a 5% chance of scoring and the second was only 4%. Onana's mistakes caused Man Utd to draw 3-3, stuck at the bottom of Group A and at risk of being eliminated from the Champions League early.

Since the 2018-2019 Champions League season, Onana has made seven errors leading to goals - the highest number in the tournament. The two goalkeepers behind Onana, Manuel Neuer (Bayern) and Geronimo Rulli (Villarreal), have made only three errors leading to goals.

This season alone, in just five games, Onana has made four errors leading to shots – more than any other goalkeeper. In that time, Onana has conceded two goals – also the most of any goalkeeper in the Champions League.

Onana should have conceded 11.59 goals, but conceded 14, according to expected goals against (xGc) figures - 2.41 more than expected. Only Antwerp goalkeeper Jean Butez has a worse xGc than Onana, at -3.59. The Belgian club have lost all five of their games, conceding 15 goals and have no hope of progressing beyond the Champions League group stage.

The 2.41 goals conceded more than expected equates to Onana conceding 0.48 more goals than expected per 90 minutes. Only Jean Butez (-0.90) and Inter Milan goalkeeper Emil Audero (-0.79) have worse figures. Audero is a reserve goalkeeper and has only played once - in Inter's 3-3 draw at Benfica in Group D's fifth round on 29 November.

Onana has been a mixed bag in the Premier League. The Cameroon international is third in both expected saves per game (0.28) and expected saves per 13 games (3.67). Only Bournemouth’s Neto (0.32) and Luton Town’s Thomas Kaminski (0.48) are better in the former, and only Kaminski (6.3) in the latter. The Cameroon international has also kept five clean sheets in the first 13 games – the highest in the league – and has not made a single error leading to a shot.

The contrasting form between the Premier League and Champions League has left Onana facing criticism and pressure. Many Man Utd fans have even called for De Gea, the goalkeeper who is still free, to return to Old Trafford. However, coach Erik ten Hag still defends his favorite student. He admits that Onana made mistakes in the Champions League, but at the same time emphasizes that he is the second best goalkeeper in the Premier League, and hints that he will continue to start Onana when Man Utd plays away at Newcastle in round 14 today.

Hong Duy

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