Stuart Pearce has now told Newcastle United to target Andre Onana ‘quickly’ when they host Manchester United at St James’ Park in the Premier League this Saturday.
The Red Devils head to the North East for a 20:00 kick-off keen to extend a strong domestic run. But their trip to Newcastle immediately follows Onana having a howler in the Champions League. His errors cost Manchester United a crucial win at Galatasaray on Wednesday night.
Galatasaray came back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 and leave Manchester United bottom of Group A. They took full advantage of Onana’s plight, as Hakim Ziyech dragged Cimbom back into the tie at 2-1 before scoring another free-kick. Onana could have done better with both.
Stuart Pearce urges Newcastle to target Andre Onana when they host Manchester United
Ziyech, or rather Onana, gave Galatasaray a lifeline when he spotted the Manchester United goalie in a poor position. The £47m shot-stopper then dropped an even worse clanger when he helped turn Ziyech’s second free-kick into the goal after trying to scoop a tame effort out.
Kerem Akturkoglu’s powerful drive would later secure Galatasaray a hard-fought point while leaving Manchester United’s Champions League dreams in tatters. And Pearce feels Onana’s ‘nervousness’ in Istanbul should convince Newcastle to target the Manchester United player.
“I would if I was taking free-kicks, that’s for sure,” Pearce told talkSPORT. “I would get one on target as quickly as I humanly could.”
Pearce also added: “I don’t think it [Onana playing] gives Newcastle the edge because he’s also got the ability to pull off a wonderful save to keep his team in it. It’s just that he’s been responsible for one or two things.
“If I was them, I’d get as many shots as possible on target and chase him down because he portrays a goalkeeper who has supreme confidence. [But] when you’re not having a good time, that belies a real nervousness.”
Andre Onana is yet to concede a single goal from a long-range shot in the Premier League
While Pearce feels Newcastle should target Onana this Saturday, only Sheffield United’s Wes Foderingham (26) and West Ham United’s Alphonse Areola (21) have saved more shots from outside of the area in the Premier League this season than the Manchester United star (18).
Also per SofaScore, Onana is still yet to concede a league goal from a shot taken outside of the area. Instead, he has conceded 16 times from shots taken inside the box to 33 saves so far. Manchester United’s record through Onana’s 13 appearances is the league’s fifth-best.
What Ziyech enjoyed by taking aim at Onana with his direct free-kicks this Wednesday will encourage Newcastle, though. Like Pearce, the Magpies will want to put Onana under the cosh early on and avoid letting the 27-year-old try to settle his nerves after a difficult week.
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