Andre Onana has only been on-site for 12 days but is already trying to keep the house in order. By now, most Manchester United fans would have seen the video clips of him berating Harry Maguire for sloppy defending against Borussia Dortmund in Sunday’s friendly. “I try to demand a lot from him because I know he is a good player,” Onana told MUTV afterwards. “He has to be ready because when I’m on the ball I demand to everyone a lot - I start with myself because we are in this together.” There might be no Maguire to shout at come September 1.
United now have a solid deep-diamond four in Onana, Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and Casemiro. Both United and Arsenal shipped 43 Premier League goals last season - the worst record in the top four - but the Gunners netted 30 more than Erik ten Hag’s side up the other end. ALSO READ: Onana addresses furious reaction to Maguire error The need for a goal-getting centre-forward was evident then and still is now.
The Reds scored five goals in four matches in the tour of the USA, albeit the team that faced Wrexham was an Under-21s side.
Still, that return is disappointing. It prompted Erik ten Hag to “absolutely” admit that a new striker is needed. He’s since played a straight bat when asked about the incoming Rasmus Hojlund.