Erik ten Hag has made a bold call regarding Andre Onana after his consequential blunder against Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League.
Despite Onana making an error that led to the Turkish club being awarded a penalty and Casemiro being sent off on Tuesday night, the United boss has reaffirmed his backing of the Cameroonian shot-stopper – who has been criticised a few times for mistakes he has made this season – insisting the he can be one of the best goalkeeper in the world.
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"We are happy with our goalkeeping group, definitely with Andre, and Andre was in one semi-finals of the Champions League, last season he was in a final of the Champions League, he has the capabilities to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world," Ten Hag said after the match, per the Daily Mirror.
"He showed that and he will do. We have already seen in games his great capabilities, also his personality after he made a mistake.
"He will bounce back and I'm sure he will do in the coming games as well."
The error proved to be a turning point in the match as Galatasaray emerged as 3-2 victors on the night, but according to the Dutch tactician, a number of mistakes cost the Red Devils the game.
"I think we were twice up and we were controlling the game. And then, yeah, some errors, some fundamental errors we make [which] we normally wouldn't have in the game," he added, per the club's official website.
"And you can't allow them in this level. You get punished for it. It's difficult to control, but we are all together, in this.
"It's not only one making such an error, it's as a team we make such errors, so you don't win the game, which was totally unnecessary because as I said, you are twice up, so you are in control of the game and then you don't expect this outcome."
The Manchester side have now conceded 18 goals in 10 matches this season, the most at this point in a campaign since 1966/67.
Despite of the side's defensive issues, however, their £72 million (R1.7 billion) striker Rasmus Hojlund scored a double his manager was proud of.
"He played a very good game and he was a threat all the way through. He scored two great goals, so we are happy with that.
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"Of course, finally now you don't win the game. And also you see Rasmus is very disappointed, but he can be really happy with his goals."