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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has played with fire by sending underperforming goalkeeper Andre Onana a public warning ahead of the Premier League's return this weekend. Ten Hag took a similar approach with Jadon Sancho almost two months ago, sparking their ongoing row, but he is desperate for his £47million signing to deliver sooner rather than later.
The Dutchman decided to replace David de Gea as his first-choice goalkeeper in the summer transfer window, ending the Spaniard's 11 years at Old Trafford.
Onana arrived from Inter Milan on the back of a sensational campaign, promising a new style due to his superior ball-playing ability and confident commanding of his area.
But the 27-year-old has endured a miserable start to life at United, conceding 19 goals in his first 11 appearances and producing a string of costly errors, drawing a spotlight on Ten Hag's bold call.
Ten Hag has addressed Onana's poor form ahead of Saturday's trip to Sheffield United, admitting he has to improve in the way the club's former goalkeepers did after sticky starts.
"He knows, we know, he will do much better and as every player who's coming into the Premier League, you need an integration period, but he has to step up," Ten Hag explained.
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Man Utd: Erik ten Hag has risked a Jadon Sancho repeat with Andre Onana. (Image: GETTY)
"Big United keepers like Peter Schmeichel and David de Gea started not doomed, and Andre knows that it is good to know a little bit from history.
"We live now, we live in the future, and he has to make his future by giving better performances. I'm sure he will do.
"He showed it at Barcelona, Ajax, Inter Milan. He was in the semi-final and final of the Champions League. I'm sure he will give a great performance."
Ten Hag recruited Onana to add another strong character to his United dressing room. Therefore, he will hope the Cameroon international will react better to his public rallying cry than Sancho.
The 23-year-old is set to leave United in January after refusing to apologise for effectively calling Ten Hag a liar over his omission from the defeat at Arsenal in September.
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The Red Devils boss has banished Sancho from the first team until he apologises. However, the prolonged saga is reportedly now at a stage where their relationship is 'irreparable'.
United and Onana face a tricky set of fixtures until the next international break in November, with seven crucial games on the horizon.
After Sheffield United, the Red Devils clash with Copenhagen at home and away in the Champions League.
They also host Newcastle United at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup fourth round, an eye-catching rematch from last season's final.
In the Premier League, Manchester City and Luton visit M16 on either side of a trip to Fulham.