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Manchester United's Champions League campaign got off to a rocky start as they suffered a 4-3 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich on Wednesday, 20 September. Despite a promising beginning, United's momentum was disrupted by two quick goals between the 28th and 32nd minutes, forcing them into a game of catch-up.
The spotlight post-match was firmly on Manchester United's goalkeeper, Andre Onana, who candidly admitted that his errors were pivotal in the team's loss. A lapse in judgement by the Cameroon international allowed Bayern's Leroy Sane to score, as Onana failed to stop what seemed like a routine shot.
Discussing the unfortunate turn of events, Onana told reporters, "This is the life of a goalkeeper. It's difficult. We started very good. After my mistake we lost control of the game. It's a difficult situation for us, for me especially because I'm the one who let the team down."
For the initial 25 minutes, United appeared in control, showing promise after a series of underwhelming performances in the Premier League. However, Onana's blunder shifted the game's dynamics. "We were very good on the ball, they didn't create any chances, their first shot on target I made a mistake. It was the key point and the team went down because of that mistake," he lamented.
Onana, who joined United this summer, didn't shy away from taking responsibility. Reflecting on his performance, he said, "If we didn't win today it was because of me. I have to learn from it and be strong. I have a lot to prove. My start in Manchester hasn't been so good, not how I want. This was one of my worst games."
Former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand, while analysing the match on TNT Sports, commended Onana for acknowledging his mistakes. However, he didn't mince words when discussing the error. "All the blame [for that goal] lays at his door. It was a straightforward save. It's not a hard shot to deal with. He'd expect to make that save. It epitomises Manchester United this season," Ferdinand remarked.
The loss serves as a reminder for United that the road ahead in the Champions League will be challenging, and every mistake can prove costly.
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