Manchester United's goalkeeper, Andre Onana, has refused to publicly throw support behind Erik ten Hag in a surprise statement.
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Onana refuses to publicly back Ten HagThinks he's 'big enough' to stick up for himselfRed Devils could look to change manager this summerWHAT HAPPENED?
Onana claims that, even though he still supports his manager, Ten Hag is able to defend his position as United boss himself. The Dutchman has been under immense pressure in his second season at Old Trafford and, on a number of occasions, found himself on the brink of being sacked. United trail Spurs and Aston Villa by 11 points and, barring a dramatic turnaround, it appears unlikely they will qualify for the Champions League – should they fail to achieve that target, Onana may find himself under the leadership of a new manager.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Amid claims this week that the United players believe that Ten Hag has given up hope of remaining at the club beyond the summer, Onana offered his thoughts. The goalkeeper worked under the Dutchman at Ajax and was brought to the club in the summer for €51 million (£43m/$57m). Seen as the answer to United's goalkeeping issues, Onana had a complicated start and not helped Ten Hag's case to remain at the club. It's fair to say he has, however, hit something resembling his best form in recent weeks.
WHAT ONANA SAID
The goalkeeper : "You deliver good today and yesterday, tomorrow you don’t deliver good and they are always going to remember what you did last. And unfortunately, you can’t change that.
"Erik is a very good manager. I’m not here to back him because he’s already big enough to back himself.
"He did great things for United last season. But this is football and I always say football is temporary."
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ONANA AND TEN HAG?
United travel to Bournemouth on Saturday evening in a must-win game. Onana said that Ten Hag is big enough to back himself, and so the Dutchman must deliver a victory if he is to cling on to the faint hopes of playing Champions League football and remaining in a job next season.