Andre Onana, the goalkeeper for Manchester United, accepted responsibility for his team’s 4-3 Champions League loss to Bayern Munich on Wednesday after his mistake on the first goal gave the German powerhouse the advantage.
At the Allianz Arena, United had gotten off to a fast start, but when Leroy Sane’s goal eluded Onana on minute 28, they were never able to get back into the game.
The Cameroonian has struggled in the first few weeks of his United career after signing in a £47 million ($58 million) deal, despite shining for Inter Milan during their march to the Champions League final last season.
At the UEFA Champions League Group A football match between FC Bayern Munich and Manchester United in Munich, southern Germany on September 20, 2023, German midfielder #10 Leroy Sane of Bayern Munich scores the first goal past Cameroonian goalkeeper #24 Andre Onana of Manchester United. Image: AFP
For the first time since 1978, the Red Devils have now let up three goals or more in three straight games.
“My error caused us to lose control of the game. We’re in a tough position, and I personally feel very hard about it since I let the team down,” Onana said to TNT Sports.
Bayern’s lead was swiftly increased by Serge Gnabry.
After Rasmus Hojlund’s opening goal for United momentarily gave the visitors a chance to tie the score, Harry Kane’s penalty put Bayern back up two goals ahead.
After Mathys Tel’s fourth goal for Bayern, Casemiro scored twice in a wild ending, but United has now lost four of their first six league games this year.
“It’s not how I want to play, so my start in Manchester is not so good,” Onana said.
“We have high expectations and want to win everything, therefore this is one of my worst games ever. It was also a great chance for us to recover from the circumstances we are in.
These are trying times. The only thing we can do is work together and grow from our errors.