Onana shines bright after putting demons to bed

ANDRE ONANA has revealed he has mentally turned a corner and is now able to ‘shine’ at Manchester United.

The Cameroonian goalkeeper faced intense criticism earlier in the season following a series of high-profile blunders in the Champions League against Bayern Munich and Galatasaray.

While Onana, 27, never lost faith in his own ability, it has taken time for him to battle his mental demons.

‘It took me six or seven months to feel good,’ he said. ‘It was a difficult time for me. Now I’m feeling a bit better. Everything was new, it was difficult for me to feel at home because of so many reasons. Now I’m feeling good. For me, the most important thing is to be set, to be happy and I will shine.’

The £47million summer signing from Inter Milan was under pressure to hit the ground running at Old Trafford and he admitted it was a steeper learning curve than he had anticipated. Asked if he was mentally beating himself up over each mistake, he said: ‘I don’t think so but sometimes you are faced with a difficult situation.

‘I learned a lot. Playing in the final of the Champions League (the season before) and being knocked out in the first stage a few months later… it was a big lesson for me.’

Onana has been one of United’s most consistent performers since his return from the Africa Cup of Nations and is only one clean sheet behind Golden Glove leader Jordan Pickford, who has eight.

In the FA Cup against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday Onana made decisive saves at 0-0, giving Erik ten Hag’s side the springboard to go on to win it with Casemiro’s header late on. ‘My team-mates always reminded me of the goalkeeper I am and why I came to this club,’ said Onana. ‘They told me, “Andre, it took some players two years, others six months and others no time. You have that personality to turn the situation (around)”.

‘They always believed in me and told me from the beginning, “Andre, the quality is there, it’s just a matter of time”.

‘I am very happy, especially with the fans, they were nice with me even in difficult periods. Now we have to move on and a great time will come. As a United player you must win so we are all responsible for what happened against Fulham.

‘I know how good we are and I believe everything will change.’