Manchester United’s defensive struggles have persisted throughout the season, with goalkeeper Andre Onana often shouldering the blame. Onana, signed from Inter during the summer to replace David De Gea, was expected to bring a composed presence on the ball, aiding Erik ten Hag’s system and helping United dominate possession while stifling the opposition.

However, due to a revolving door of left-backs, various center-back pairings, and defensive midfielder rotations, Onana has been forced to take on a sweeper-keeper role. His aggressive style of play has occasionally left him out of position, resulting in easy goals conceded. Nevertheless, during the recent Champions League match against Copenhagen, Old Trafford witnessed Onana’s true potential in securing a victory for the Red Devils.

Despite facing constant pressure from Copenhagen, Onana made four crucial saves. However, it was his final save that made the biggest impact. After Scott McTominay conceded his second penalty in as many games, Jordan Larsson stepped up to take the shot. Onana emerged as the victor, making a well-timed touch with his arm to save the penalty. Speaking to former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel on CBS Sports’ UEFA Champions League Today post-match show, Onana reflected on the moment.

“The save was important to me, the club, and the team,” Onana expressed after the match. “It was a challenging game against a very good team, and securing the victory was our top priority. I’m happy with the win, but now we must focus on the next match.”

Onana’s mentality speaks volumes about his character. Not only does he emphasize the significance of the victory for the entire team, but he acknowledges that their job is far from over, with a match against Manchester City on the horizon. Despite his own impressive performance, Onana redirects the praise towards his teammate.

“The hero tonight is Harry Maguire. He scored a crucial goal for us and secured the victory,” Onana humbly stated.

Support from teammates, like Onana’s acknowledgement of Maguire’s contribution, can greatly impact players like Maguire, who have endured their fair share of challenges. It is these small acts of support and unity that can help United maintain their positive momentum and work towards improvement in the goalkeeping department as the team gets healthier.

While consistency remains a challenge for both Onana and the Red Devils, the key to stringing together multiple Champions League victories lies in securing the first one. Having achieved that at home, United now faces the task of maintaining their form in Denmark and aiming to put the game to bed before stoppage time.