Onana Under Pressure, Martinez on the Radar Man United
When Manchester United signed Andre Onana in 2023, it wasn’t just a goalkeeper change it was a shift in philosophy.
David de Gea, a reflex specialist between the posts, made way for a modern goalkeeper one who is confident with the ball at his feet and expected to be actively involved in the build-up play. Onana was brought in as the “key to unlocking progression from the back.”
However, two seasons in, that theory has yet to materialize. The Cameroonian goalkeeper has shown flashes of brilliance but has also displayed signs of instability in an unstructured team.
Mistakes began to creep in, confidence began to waver, and now people are asking: Is Onana still the right fit for Manchester United?
Martinez: Safer Than a Risk-Taker?
Emiliano Martinez has been linked with a move to United. The Aston Villa and Argentina No.1 presents a stark contrast to Onana.
Where Onana thrives on taking risks for high rewards, Martinez opts for a pragmatic, controlled style. In a team plagued with tactical inconsistencies like United, that difference matters.
Onana suits possession-based sides where the goalkeeper acts as a deep-lying playmaker. At Ajax and Inter, he was protected by solid systems.
At United, however, the defense has often been disjointed — especially following Lisandro Martinez’s injury leaving Onana “lost” in the chaos.
Martinez, on the other hand, doesn’t require a flawless system. He is a traditional goalkeeper — effective in coming off his line, commanding in the air, and decisive in his actions.
Since the 2020/21 season, the Argentine international has made the most high claims in the Premier League (237), surpassing even David Raya.
Martinez also displays remarkable composure in high-pressure moments. He was a hero for Argentina in the World Cup and Copa America not just for his saves, but also his mental warfare in penalty shootouts.
That said, he’s not immune to errors. Last season, he received a red card in a 2-0 loss to Manchester United. The 32-year-old admitted:
“This year I haven’t been great in terms of clean sheets.”
Head-to-Head: Who's Better?
In terms of shot-stopping, there’s little to separate Martinez and Onana. The United keeper recorded one more clean sheet than Martinez in the 2024/25 Premier League season (9 vs 8). But the real difference lies in their approach.
Martinez is proactive in catching crosses, reducing the risk of second balls, and is a mentally strong presence in goal. Onana, by contrast, often parries shots into the six-yard box a danger zone where United’s defenders haven’t been effective at clearing.
When it comes to distribution, Martinez plays it simple, sending the ball into midfield for Villa to build attacks. Onana uses a more varied range, often playing passes to the left where United’s stronger attackers are positioned. However, due to systemic instability, his progressive passes often appear mistimed or misjudged.
A Reflection of United’s Current Reality
The choice between Onana and Martinez reflects where Manchester United stand today. This isn’t a team that dominates possession or executes systematic pressing. And that’s exactly why a goalkeeper like Martinez who doesn’t demand too much from the system could be a viable solution.
