Gary Neville warns Andre Onana could face the axe as Amorim loses patience with underwhelming Manchester United star
This season has been equally turbulent for Manchester United, who currently sit 14th in the Premier League and have been eliminated from both domestic cup competitions. With only the Europa League left to salvage a dismal campaign, pressure continues to mount on several individuals, none more so than goalkeeper Andre Onana. According to club legend Gary Neville, Onana is “in trouble” at Old Trafford, with his position in the squad growing increasingly uncertain. Give Me Sport suggest that manager Ruben Amorim is becoming frustrated with the Cameroonian’s consistently erratic performances, raising serious doubts about his long-term future at the club.
Andre Onana was at the centre of yet another disappointing result for Manchester United, as he was directly responsible for both goals conceded in the team’s 2-2 Europa League draw with Lyon on Thursday. His last-minute blunder gifted the French side an equaliser, putting added pressure on United ahead of the second leg. This latest error adds to an alarming pattern of high-profile mistakes, prompting serious concerns about his role at the club.
Speaking to NBC Sports via The New York Times, club legend Gary Neville remarked that Onana’s time at Old Trafford “could be unraveling.” Neville suggested that if manager Ruben Amorim had chosen to drop Onana for Altay Bayındır in the recent clash against Newcastle, it would’ve sent shockwaves through the dressing room. He highlighted how Onana’s shaky form has begun to sow anxiety throughout the squad — a far cry from the confidence that once surrounded a goalkeeper previously hailed as “world-class.”
Is Onana not world-class anymore?
Ruben Amorim appears to have run out of patience with Andre Onana, as the Cameroonian goalkeeper continues to produce costly errors that are undermining Manchester United’s already fragile season. Speaking on the situation, club legend Gary Neville emphasised the unique impact of dropping a goalkeeper, noting that it sends “shockwaves through the entire team” — unlike benching an outfield player, which can be more easily absorbed.
Neville pointed out that once uncertainty seeps into the goalkeeping position, it spreads through the backline and into the dressing room. He described Onana as “far too erratic and unreliable,” particularly troubling for a role that demands composure and consistency. While attackers may occasionally falter without damaging the team’s structure, goalkeepers must offer a calming presence, something Onana has notably failed to provide since his arrival.
Neville questioned whether Amorim genuinely trusts anyone in the current squad, suggesting that the manager may have initially backed Onana, but that trust is now visibly deteriorating. With United’s defence already under pressure, the instability at the back could prove increasingly damaging if changes aren’t made soon.
The United Legend speaking to NBC, talked about the Cameroonian
“And that’s the one position you need consistency and reliability. You can accept sometimes that a winger or a forward misses a chance – that happens. But for goalkeepers, they have to be reliable, and he’s not been.”
“And what David [Ornstein] has just said there is really true, that it’s getting to the point now – who does Ruben Amorim like in that squad? Who does he want to keep? He would have been hoping that his goalkeeper was one of them, but I think it’s doubtful.”
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Onana’s costly mistakes have already derailed Manchester United’s Premier League campaign, but if his latest blunder against Lyon proves pivotal in a potential Europa League exit, the scrutiny surrounding him will reach new heights. Should United crash out of Europe, Ruben Amorim will almost certainly be forced to act decisively in the summer transfer window to restore stability between the posts. Bringing in a new goalkeeper may no longer be a luxury, it could become a necessity.
With European qualification for next season hanging in the balance, United cannot afford to gamble on inconsistency in such a vital position. Rebuilding confidence at the back will be crucial if the club hopes to end its turbulent run and re-establish itself among the elite, both domestically and in Europe.