Paul Scholes has criticised Andre Onana for his performance in Manchester United’s 3-3 draw against Galatasaray on Wednesday night, blaming the goalkeeper for all three goals conceded.
The Red Devils took an early 2-goal lead in a rain-soaked Istanbul, thanks to impressive goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes. However, Hakim Ziyech’s free-kick deceived Onana, narrowing the lead. In the second half, Scott McTominay extended United’s advantage, but Onana misjudged another Ziyech free-kick.
Soon after, Kerem Akturkoglu leveled the scores with a powerful shot, and Scholes criticized Onana for his nervous and error-filled performance, particularly faulting him for leaving too much space at his near post.
Speaking on TNT Sports afterwards, Scholes said: ‘Well, what can you say? It’s a terrible mistake again [for the second goal]. I’m not sure what he’s actually trying to do, punch it away with his right hand? It’s weak.
‘He makes people nervous, he makes the defence nervous, he makes the whole team nervous. He makes simple saves look really, really difficult.
‘Beaten at the near post [for Galatasaray’s third]. We’ll probably have goalkeeper experts who will know more about this than us, but again I don’t think he should be beaten at the near post.
‘His positioning is poor. For me, all three goals are down to him. His technique looks awkward.’
Asked if manager Erik ten Hag needs to take responsibility for the signing, Scholes continued: ‘Managers ultimately have to take responsibility for all their signings. It’s a shame tonight because in the last few weeks, in the Premier League especially, he’s started to look OK.
‘He’s looking a lot better, but still making unconventional saves, and it’s the Champions League where it’s been a real struggle for him.
‘I don’t know why – is he too casual? You see him there having a little smirk to himself.
‘I just think he’s a bit too relaxed. I don’t think his concentration is all there and for a goalkeeper concentration is the most important thing.
‘You think of the other team as well, watching the goalkeeper, and he’s nervous and all over the place, thinking, “We’ve just got to shoot, cross the ball in, get the ball in and around him”. He looks like he’s going to concede every time!’