Ladyman: Onana is BETTER with his feet than some United outfielders

Andre Onana is BETTER with the ball at his feet than some of Manchester United’s outfielders, claims Ian Ladyman on It’s All Kicking Off

• Manchester United were beaten 3-1 by Arsenal in another early-season blow
• Mail Sport‘s Ian Ladyman was impressed by Andre Onana’s technical ability
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast It’s All Kicking Off 

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana is better with the ball at his feet than some of the team’s outfielders’, claims Mail Sport‘s Ian Ladyman. 

United were beaten 3-1 by Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday but Onana’s ability with his feet left Ladyman impressed despite being unable to prevent the Gunners from netting three times in north London – including two stoppage time strikes to clinch a dramatic win.

Marcus Rashford had opened the scoring for the Red Devils before Arsenal hit back through Martin Odegaard. Declan Rice then smashed in a winner in the 96th minute before Gabriel Jesus added gloss to the scoreline in the 11th minute of stoppage time.

Speaking on Mail Sport‘s It’s All Kicking Off podcast, Ladyman admitted he had changed his opinion on Onana having been sceptical about his £47million move from Inter Milan this summer. 

Fellow podcast host Chris Sutton had suggested Ladyman had performed a U-turn on Onana after his promising displays for United this season, with Mail Sport‘s Football Editor saying he had been won over by his technical ability. 

Mail Sport‘s Ian Ladyman (left) has claimed Manchester United keeper Andre Onana (right) is better with his feet than some of the team’s outfielders

Ladyman (l) said he had changed his tune on Onana on Mail Sport‘s It’s All Kicking Off podcast

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‘I have [changed my mind on Onana] and I’m glad you’ve mentioned Andre Onana because I think I wrote him off as soon as they signed him, just because I didn’t know much about him,’ he said. 

‘What I did notice on Sunday – this sounds like I’m being facetious but I’m not – I actually think he’s better with the ball at his feet than some of United’s outfield players. 

‘I certainly think he’s better with his feet than Victor Lindelof. There was one time when Onana passed it about five yards to Lindelof, he looked at him as if to say “why are you passing it to me for?” and passed it straight back. 

‘That is one of the problems with having a ball-playing goalkeeper, which is what Ten Hag wants. You’ve got to have ball-playing centre-halves, you’ve got to have ball-playing full-backs. 

‘Aaron Wan-Bissaka is not a ball-playing full-back, he’s a brilliant full-back – not a ball-playing full-back.’

Onana has come straight into the team at United since his £47m switch from Inter Milan 

Onana has started all four games this season since arriving as a replacement for the outgoing David de Gea, who left on a free transfer. 

While Ladyman was glowing in his praise for Onana, there was a far gloomier outlook for Jadon Sancho, whose future at Manchester United is in doubt after being dropped for the game over his ‘training performance’.

Sancho had hit back, claiming Ten Hag’s explanation was ‘completely untrue’ and that he was being used as a ‘scapegoat’. 

Sutton claimed that Sancho’s days were numbered at United, but said the manager and the player were both at fault. He criticised Ten Hag for outing him publicly and the winger for his response. 

Ladyman said Ten Hag had to be ‘honest’ in his assessment of Sancho and was entitled to do so. 

There was a gloomier outlook for Jadon Sancho after he was dropped for the loss to Arsenal, with Chris Sutton claiming he was ‘finished’ at United

He added: ‘Ten Hag was asked about [Sancho] after the game and replied to my mind very, very honestly and openly by saying he wasn’t selected because he hadn’t trained well in the week. It’s an honest answer to a straight question.

‘If Ten Hag is evasive or obtuse about this issue, people will then start to ask themselves, “Has Jaden Sancho maybe got another mental issue?” That wouldn’t be fair on Sancho. Ten Hag had to tell the truth.’

Sutton added: ‘Manchester United this season haven’t hit the straps and a fit, firing Jadon Sancho would be a real asset for them. It looks like he’s finished at Manchester United. If you’re Jadon Sancho, how do you feel about that? Being outed in public. 

‘You have to have the manager’s back. Kenny Dalglish used to say things in the sanctuary of the dressing room and would fillet players. He filleted me, which wouldn’t surprise you. Then he’d go out to you boys in the press and say something, totally different, back the players. 

‘When managers do that, they always have the dressing room with them. As soon as you start calling out a player publicly, I think it becomes a problem.’ 

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

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