Onana: Took me 6 months to feel good at Man Utd

André Onana has admitted he didn’t feel good for the first six months of his Manchester United career.

The goalkeeper, signed for £47 million ($59.4m) from Inter Milan in the summer, was responsible for a series of mistakes during the first half of the season.

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Onana’s errors played a part in United’s early exit from the Champions League but after a difficult start to life at Old Trafford, the 27-year-old said he’s starting to feel more comfortable.

“I already know the goalkeeper that I am, it took me six months or seven months, not to play good, just to feel good,” Onana 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; new country. Now I’m feeling good. For me, the most important thing is to be set, to be happy and I will shine.”

Onana was part of the Inter team that reached the Champions League final in June but struggled in the competition with United, making mistakes against Bayern Munich and Galatasaray as Erik ten Hag’s team finished bottom of their group.

His form has improved and he made two important saves in the 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup on Wednesday but he said his experiences in the Champions League this season have been “a lesson.”

“Sometimes you are faced with a difficult situation,” Onana said to reporters following the win at the City Ground. “I had a difficult six or seven months just feeling good. It was just something strange, I don’t know. It was a good time for me to learn because I learned a lot at that time. Playing in the final of the Champions League and being knocked out in the first stage a few months later, it was a big lesson for me.

“Now I think I have everything on my back, learn it, move on and try to be happy. That is the most important thing.”

Onana is set to start against Manchester City on Sunday as United look to bounce back from the 2-1 defeat to Fulham last weekend.

Victory at the Etihad Stadium would be their first away from home in the Manchester derby and ahead of the game, Onana has thanked his teammates for helping him through his difficult start at the club.

“My teammates, my players, they always reminded me who I am and the goalkeeper I am and why I came to this club,” he said.

“They told me, ‘André, it took some players two years, for 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, ‘André, the quality is there, it’s just a matter of time.’

“I am very happy, especially with the supporters, the fans, they were nice with me even in difficult periods and I’m very thankful. I can only thank them.”