BRUNO SLAMS ‘LAZY’ UNITED
UNITED goalkeeper Andre Onana hopes to return for the start of the new Premier League season after missing all pre-season games to date.
Onana sustained a hamstring injury in the first week of training last month.
This setback led head coach Ruben Amorim to use both Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton in goal during their three-match tour of the USA, which wrapped up on Sunday. Despite not being at their sharpest, United managed a 2-2 draw with Everton in Atlanta, Georgia, securing the Premier League Summer Series title.
However, as United gear up for their season opener against Arsenal on Sunday, August 17, Onana may still be absent, although he reports feeling ‘great’ ahead of their last pre-season match against Fiorentina on Saturday.
“I feel good, I feel great,” the Cameroonian told Sky Sports on Sunday. “It’s been a few difficult weeks but, yes, hopefully, I will be back for the start of the season.
“I’m enjoying the training with my guys and we are looking forward.”
Onana also commented on United’s prospects for the 2025-26 season. He added: “If we have a good start against Arsenal, everything is possible.
Last week, Amorim expressed confidence in Onana’s upcoming season, downplaying rumours that he’s seeking a new goalkeeper to challenge the 29-year-old at United. His recent observations from training suggest there’s no urgency for a replacement.
“I think even when you talk about Andre, you can see the goalkeepers,” he said.
“Even Tom is leaner, he’s a different goalkeeper. Altay did really well, and Onana is going to be better, like the other guys, this year. “I think we are better in every detail.”
UNITED captain Bruno Fernandes felt he and his team-mates ‘were a little bit lazy’ during their 2-2 draw with Everton in Atlanta.
United brought their pre-season tour of the United States to a close with a stalemate against the Toffees at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but it was enough to see them clinch the Premier League Summer Series trophy.
Fernandes opened the scoring from the spot before Everton levelled things up shortly before half-time through Iliman Ndiaye.
After Mason Mount had put United back in front with just over 20 minutes to go, United conceded another cheap goal six minutes later when a Toffees counter-attack resulted in Amad turning the ball into his own net via an unfortunate touch off Ayden Heaven. Although United can look back on their pre-season tour with a plenty to be positive about, Fernandes rued their lack of effort without the ball against David Moyes’ team.
“It was positive,” Fernandes told NBC Sports,
We have to avoid that because the laziness means you can pay at any moment
when reflecting on the tour. “Obviously it was positive to be together, to create a bond between the players, to get into the way we want to play and to involve the new ones and everything.
“But obviously we didn’t want to finish in this way; our performance wasn’t the best.
“Off the ball, I think we were a little bit lazy today.
“We have to avoid that because the laziness means you can pay at any moment.
“By one mistake from me, we ended up at 2-2.”