Manchester United slumped to another damaging home defeat on Sunday afternoon, losing 3-0 at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.
Erik ten Hag needed a statement performance and result on Sunday, having only managed to draw 1-1 with FC Twente on Wednesday night.
Tottenham Hotspur visited Old Trafford and fans were looking for a major improvement with almost a full-strength squad for Ten Hag to choose from.
Instead, we saw a dismal display as Manchester United lost 3-0 without even really laying a glove on Spurs.
Bruno Fernandes’ straight red card didn’t help matters but United were comfortably second best even before his dismissal.
United have managed just one goal in three home Premier League games this season and another defeat leaves Ten Hag under pressure.
Rio Ferdinand on Andre Onana
Few United players came out of Sunday’s defeat with any credit.
Only one United player managed a rating higher than 6 out of 10 in the United in Focus player ratings against Tottenham.
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That player was goalkeeper Andre Onana as the United stopper at least attempted to provide some resistance.
Onana racked up seven saves and it’s fair to say that United’s fate would have been much, much worse without him.
Rio Ferdinand has now moved to praise Onana whilst speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents.
Ferdinand noted that Onana received a lot of criticism last season but has really ‘stepped up’ this term.
The former United defender feels that Onana is now turning in performances expected of him after his big move from Inter Milan.
Ferdinand added that Onana is the only player who deserves credit from Sunday’s game, praising him for a strong start to the season.
“Do you know how I’ve got to give a shout out to? He took a lot of stick last season – Onana,” said Ferdinand.
“Without him, it’s six or seven today. Onana has been good this season, he’s stepped up, he’s made some big saves.
“Yes, there’s been the odd thing here and there, but he’s been what you’d want to see, what I expected to see from Onana is what I’m seeing this season.
“He’s the only one today who comes out of the game with any sort of credit, any sort of positivity. He can walk with his head high,” he added.
Onana could have new competition
United invested big money in Onana, paying up to £47million to lure him to Old Trafford.
Onana was the top choice for boss Ten Hag after working together at Ajax and he has cemented himself as United’s first-choice stopper.
United also signed Altay Bayindir just weeks after signing Onana, snapping up the Fenerbahce stopper as backup to Onana.
Bayindir has barely featured for United though and reports suggest that United are looking to sign Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.
Onana would still be first choice though and has proven that he can be relied upon in the long term, even if Ten Hag – the man who signed him – meets his end this season.