sportskeeda
MASSIMO TAIBI has warned Manchester United’s error-prone goalkeeper Andre Onana that it is “one hell of a task” to recover once people have written you off.
The former Red Devils goalkeeper, now 54, humorously advised the pressured Cameroon international to score a GOAL now and then to help overshadow his previous mistakes.
In two losses this month, Onana made notable errors, conceding a long-range goal from Morgan Gibbs-White for Nottingham Forest and letting a direct corner from Wolves’ Matheus Cunha slip in.
Taibi, infamous for allowing a straightforward shot from Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier to go through his fingers at Old Trafford in 1999, commented: “He can only erase a mistake from the public’s memory with ten to fifteen outstanding performances.”
“If his errors continue to be a hot topic, it’s because he hasn’t done enough to move past them.”
“A goalkeeper sets himself apart by being mentally resilient. If a striker misses five chances, he still receives praise, but a keeper who makes a mistake faces criticism for months.”
“Recovering from this is possible, but it’s undoubtedly a daunting task. It’s normal for some of these incidents to haunt Onana since he is human. It can affect him, but it mustn’t completely consume him.”
“A keeper cannot perform at the highest level if he can’t let things go — staying composed is crucial.”
Onana, who joined United for £47.2 million from Inter Milan last year, had multiple glaring mistakes during the previous season.
He let a weak shot from Leroy Sane go past him in a 4-3 defeat to Bayern Munich, made a poor pass that led to a red card for teammate Casemiro against Galatasaray, and allowed a soft shot from Mathias Jensen to roll under his body against Brentford.
Taibi said: “Last season was challenging for him, but it initially appeared he was recovering well.”
“However, when you start poorly at a new club, even if you later deliver several excellent performances, the first mistake will revive all the negativity.”
“Whenever he fumbles, fingers will be pointed because of his many errors last year. The groundwork for this season’s difficulties was laid last term when his reputation took a hit.”
Taibi believes a header he scored for Reggina in 2001 has helped fans overlook his 1999 blunder.
He shared: “I’m remembered for that goal for Reggina; otherwise, I would be known solely for my howler at United. A keeper scoring is rare, especially in the 2000s.”
“Higuita is celebrated for his scorpion kick, and no one remembers Chilavert for his saves but for his free-kick goals.”
“Even Zenga, regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world for many years, is frequently reminded of that Caniggia mistake at Italia 90. Such is the tough reality for goalkeepers.”
Onana has received substantial criticism, but Taibi noted that he is making mistakes of a particular type.
The Italian explained: “We can only label something a ‘clanger’ if you step out of line and misplay the ball or let a long-range shot slide through your fingers or drop a basic save.”
“However, his errors stem from positioning issues. For the corner, he should have positioned himself further forward.”
“He may have misjudged the ball’s trajectory, as scoring from that position is unexpected.”
“And with Gibbs-White, he anticipated the shot too late after he realized the ball was on its way.”
“Normally, such mistakes wouldn’t attract attention if he had played ten to fifteen solid games. But under intense scrutiny, these errors are magnified.”
At 28, Onana often oscillates between making stunning saves and committing blunders.
Taibi warned: “Pulling off an incredible save is often easier than making a routine one, as it seems effortless when you gather the ball.”
“But with miraculous saves, if you succeed, you’re hailed as a genius; if you fail, it’s often seen as not your fault.”
“Goalkeepers sometimes underestimate what are deemed ‘easy’ saves. A slip is preventable if you exercise more care, and perhaps he could have stopped it had he taken a small step back.”
“It’s simpler to save a nearly impossible shot than to stay focused for 95 minutes! A brief lapse in concentration can be catastrophic.”
Taibi humorously remarked that United fans might “take a swing” at him if they met.
He added: “I should never have let a goal go through my legs, but I slipped while diving. If I hadn’t slipped, it wouldn’t have happened.”
“I’ve never returned to Old Trafford since I left and haven’t met Le Tissier again.”
“I would love to go back someday, but I doubt the fans would recognize me. Let’s hope not because if they did, they might hit me!”
“My only regret is that it seems I was seen as someone who left due to failure. I had a four-year contract, and no one forced me out.”
“I faced personal struggles; my wife left me, taking my two kids back to Italy on Christmas Eve.”
“I made a hasty decision due to my loneliness. Given the chance, I would confront my issues while in England.”
“Being labeled a ‘flop’ and the worst keeper in Premier League history still troubles me because it’s an unfair assessment.”
“You can’t judge a keeper based on four games, two of which were solid performances! I played for Manchester United, and only exceptional players achieve that.”
