What Andre Onana did that convinced Manchester United he could turn his form around

When Andre Onana stuck out a big right hand to turn Jordan Larsson's penalty around the post on Tuesday night, Peter Schmeichel stood at the other end of Old Trafford and let out a roar and a fist pump in celebration.

It was a momentous moment for many reasons. Onana's touch to save the penalty was the last of the game, preserving a vital 1-0 victory for Manchester United against FC Copenhagen. It ensured the night acted as a suitable tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton and might just act as a lift-off point for Onana in his Old Trafford career.

Until then, the 27-year-old had found the glare of the spotlight when you become United's No. 1 a little too bright. There had been errors in the previous two Champions League fixtures and his form was a big reason his side were already on the brink in Europe.

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His most significant mistake so far came in the Allianz Arena, when he let Leroy Sane's tame shot squirm underneath him to hand Bayern Munich the lead and puncture United's bright start. In the dressing room that night, Onana walked in and told his teammates "I'm going out there", fronting up to several TV interviews and admitting responsibility.

His teammates told him it wasn't necessary, but the Cameroon international wouldn't have any of it. "No, I'm doing it," he said. It won him plenty of respect in the dressing room and was an example of the character and conviction that meant the faith of United's management team never wavered.

As he left the Allianz Arena that night, Onana bumped into Schmeichel and the two men compared notes. The Dane made 398 appearances for United and Erik ten Hag and