Andre Onana is under fire at Manchester United, but former Manchester City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart believes the blame lies elsewhere.
According to Hart, Onana has been let down by his teammates and head coach Ruben Amorim, and bringing in a new goalkeeper won’t solve United’s bigger problems.
Signed for £43.8 million to replace fan-favorite David de Gea, Onana faced immense pressure from the start. His debut season was plagued by errors, but this year he has shown improvement, making critical saves, including during United’s 3-1 comeback win against Southampton. Despite this, questions remain about his fit under Amorim’s management.
Onana was brought in for his passing skills and ability to play out from the back, but critics argue he hasn’t demonstrated these strengths at Old Trafford. Hart sympathized, telling Stadium Astro:
“I feel for Andre Onana. He’s being questioned because things aren’t working, but he’s a system goalkeeper. At Ajax and Inter Milan, he had clear passing options.
That’s not the case at United. I don’t see the energy or movement from his teammates to help him succeed. The hesitation people see isn’t entirely his fault.”
Hart added that United’s issues stem from a lack of collective commitment to their playing style. “To play out from the back, all 11 players and the coach need to buy into the system.
Right now, Onana is being forced into long balls because he has no support. That’s not how United is set up, and it’s why possession often breaks down,” he said.
Replacing Onana won’t fix the problem, Hart warned. “A good ball-playing goalkeeper isn’t just about passing—it’s about fitting into a functioning system. The responsibility falls on Amorim to create that system.”
Onana hopes to improve his connection with his teammates as Manchester United prepares to host Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday.