“We Are Big Enough to Accept Reality” – Andre Onana on Erik ten Hag After a “Bad Season”

Andre Onana has admitted that Manchester United had a “bad season” under Erik ten Hag but hopes the manager will get the chance to turn things around.

Despite ending the 2023-24 season with back-to-back wins over Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion, United finished eighth in the Premier League—their worst-ever finish. They won 18 games, drew six, and lost a club-record 14 matches, finishing 15 points and five places worse than last season.

The team missed out on European qualification unless they win against Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

One of Ten Hag’s signings last summer was goalkeeper Onana, who had previously worked with him at Ajax and impressed at Inter Milan. United spent close to £50 million on the Cameroonian. Despite a challenging debut season at Old Trafford, Onana believes Ten Hag remains the same manager he knew in Amsterdam.

When asked by former Man United defender Gary Neville on The Overlap if Ten Hag has changed since joining the Red Devils, Onana said, “I don’t see any difference. I think he’s the same guy.”

“We’re the same players, and he’s the same manager I knew at Ajax. He hasn’t changed in one or two years.”

“I’m not here to back him because he’s capable of backing himself. Last season was fantastic for him. So, it’s just a bad season.”

Onana added, “For me, last season I was the best, so for this season, do we have a different goalkeeper? No, it’s the same guy.”

“[Ten Hag is] just facing difficult situations, and we are big enough to accept the reality. If we want to improve, we have to face reality head-on.”

“I think he’s the same manager. He’s just dealing with different, difficult situations, and hopefully, things will get better for him.”

Ten Hag hopes to prove himself under the club’s new minority shareholder, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who now controls all football operations at Old Trafford. The Dutchman admitted the Premier League campaign was “not good enough” and is keen to end the season positively with a victory in the FA Cup final.