André Onana: We Are Going To Wembley To Win

0:00It's Andre or Andre? Andre? It's the first time we've ever interviewed a goalkeeper on the overlap And we are privileged that Andre Inanna is going to be that first goalkeeper The toughest position in football, Manchester United number one Fact He's done a lot of work since 2016 Set up the Andre Inanna Foundation Which has delivered medical care to thousands I'm interested in goalkeeping The way it's changed the expectations on a modern goalkeeper to be a great passer of the ball, play in tight spaces, be out and at the edge of your box and anticipate every single ball over the top with all the traditional demands of a goalkeeper, which is to save shots and come for crosses.

0:45Hello, how are you? Oh, you're smarter than me. I thought you'd be casual. Are you OK? Good to see you, yeah. You enjoy Manchester? Oh, yes. Now I'm getting used to Manchester. You speak Spanish, French, Italian and English. Wow. And Cameroonian, like a dialect. Iwondo. Iwondo, yeah. We're the laziest nation in the world when it comes to languages. In football terms, it's a bit embarrassing. All the different languages that you speak, it's unbelievable, really. I had the same last season with Inter. You step in the dressing room, everyone is speaking Italian. What about in Holland? Before me, it was more difficult because you had to speak Dutch.

1:20But when I arrived, I made my lesson to learn English. Right, OK. And set up. The team talks were in English? Yeah. Edwin was the general manager when you were there. Great guy, eh? Yeah, very good. He advised me a lot when I was there. Do you still speak to him now? Yeah, 100%. Andrejana's trying to establish himself at United in his first season. It's been a tough season for the club, for the team. He's a massive personality and character, you can see that in his play. He's emotional at times. You can see he gets into the game and we'll see.

1:53You guys have done amazing things for this club. Is it difficult when ex-players criticise the team? When things are going wrong, don't go for the youngest one. I'm here to take bullets. Did you turn down or reject a contract in the end at Barcelona? When I was talking with them, they were like, Andre, you have a chance. What they were telling me is not what I found out in the end. But is it concentration? Is it something you speak about? Concentration? Yeah. In our level, we don't have to speak about concentration. At the moment, we have other teams who are doing better than us. We have to, to be honest, we have to recognise that.

2:25If we're not always running, the sun will come and shine.

2:34Every position has changed in the last 15-20 years. I don't think any position has changed more than goalkeeper. I agree. Full-back's changed, full-back's going to midfield or some sort of things like that, but the goalkeeping position has just transformed. I sometimes see goalkeeper, I see you do it sometimes, where you pass the ball to your centre-back or the centre-back passes it to you on your six-yard line. Just talk us through the thinking behind this. Because I play traditional football going back. We played out from the back, but only... If someone pressed on, we just kicked it long. Yeah.

3:06Talk to me about why you do... What is behind the thinking of this? No, it's the war of playing because we, as Manchester United, we are a big club. We cannot run behind the ball. We cannot hide today. And we want to be more dominant. we want to have more position. And playing back to me, we try to create space on the back, so it depends. But I have to be clever and have to be fast thinking and see what the opponent is going to do. Because sometimes you have the centre back of the opponent who jumps to your midfielder or to your striker. If he doesn't jump, that means we have plus one. But I have to recognise that.

3:46And I have to find the free man. sometimes that is the problem because you have the you don't see which one is free and it's what we try to do sometimes it depends also how do they press if they press with 10 if they press with the winger it depends because some teams how we we make meetings about them it's the same they do meetings about us so they know you are very good with the feet or you are very intelligent player or you have good skills or you are fast so they they prepare also how to block you, especially in this league. It's a massive pressure. Because I remember, if I received the ball in my own box and everything was in front of me, I couldn't see.

4:32It was like you have so many players in front of you. The pressure to find that pass into midfield or chipping it over, do you feel... I can't see anything here. Sometimes the pressure of you to find someone is big every time you're on the ball. It's every goalkeeper, not just you actually. Well, the pressure is big, but with your teammates, when we know each other, when you play along with your teammates, it becomes easy because they always give you options. And I'm happy to have the teammates I have now, because Bruno is always available, Meno is always available, Ari is there. So my teammates, they are making it easy for me.

5:12The problem is when you don't have the option, you have to kick long and sometimes the strike is already too close. That's why you will see sometimes you will see some goalkeeper make mistakes because we wait too long and we find the free man, but the guy is coming. He will not wait for you and it's difficult. It's a difficult situation sometimes. What is the difference between the Dutch league, the Italian league and the English league that you found? I think the difference is huge. The Premier League is by far the best. The Dutch league is good, especially when you are young. You can show yourself.

5:54The Italian league is a very tactical league, but in terms of intensity here, I think sometimes even in the Champions League, the Premier League is even higher than the Champions League in terms of intensity. But for me it's a fantastic league, it's the best league to play. And what's the intensity different for you as a goalkeeper in this league? More crosses, more long balls? Yeah but I love it, I love the crosses. But here the goalkeeper have no protection. No.

6:30Sometimes I'm fighting with the guy already before the crosses and I start to hit him like, don't come close. But then it's nice because when they come to you, my friends, you must be ready. Is that the big difference, you think? The physicality? The physicality, yeah. It's more physical than the Italian league. Yeah, the Italian league is like... It's chess. Yeah, it's tactic. But it's nice, it's beautiful to watch. But here it's up and down, up and down. It's like a tennis game. is also depending against who you play. Because you have some teams, where this tennis game is brilliant for them.

7:15You play Liverpool, it's fantastic for them. When you play City, it's not good for them, because for them, they like to have more control, position, so it depends against who you play. You guys have done amazing things for this club. Is it difficult when ex-players criticise the team? When things are going wrong, don't go for the youngest one. I'm here to take bullets.

7:44You played in the Champions League final for Inter Milan. You had an amazing season. Was it easy to come to Manchester? Was it obvious you just had to come? You wanted to experience it? Or was it a difficult decision? No, it was not. You cannot say no to Manchester. It's not one of the biggest clubs in the world. I was excited to come. Yeah. He was excited to come to Manchester and just be part of it. Was Eric Ten Hag a big feature in that? Because obviously you played for him before. Yes, but also as a club, it's difficult to say no to Manchester United. And for me, I think it's the biggest club in this country, one of the biggest clubs in the world.

8:22And playing Premier League is the best stage to show yourself. So I've said this for 20 years. Manchester United goalkeeper is the most pressurised position in the world. I think in English football, definitely, it's the most pressurised position. Have you felt that? Did you feel that in the first few months? The level of scrutiny, the level of intensity goes up? Well, the pressure, I'm used to the pressure. Being Cameroonian, first, is a big pressure. Playing for my national team, it's a huge pressure. Playing for Barcelona, it's a big pressure, especially when you first team. Inter is pressure.

9:01Here is even more. I will not say I feel the pressure because I'm used to this. You know, I'm 28 years old. But it was different. You know, it was... Everything was different. I had to adapt. It took me six months not to play good, to feel good. And I also have an opportunity to speak with some players, my teammates, of course. And they told me, Andre, listen, it took you six months. But for some, it's even a year. For others, they don't even wake up. Yeah, I agree. Who helped you through it? Obviously, other than yourself, who gave you the biggest support? Everyone. Any examples you can give where you…

9:42Listen, I will tell you a small example. I have Ari. Sometimes he enters the dressing room, and I'm talking with my guy, big guy. And when you see what if he passed through… Yeah. Why would you not pass through this? Yeah. Arif is terrible. It's a big man. He showed a lot of character. Now he's back. He's one of the best we have. Yeah. So it's an example, you know. Yeah. It's important to look at this kind of example. It's important to take him as a reference because he passed through a difficult situation. Now he's back and we move forward. I'm happy. I'm happy because my teammate people, as I told you before, We have good people around you, especially this club.

10:29They helped me so much. And that's why I'm still smiling. Because the first six months, it was difficult. But at the same time, it was a good moment to learn. You know, you become most stronger. Because after playing the final of the Champions League and the final of the Euroval, you think you are the best. You've seen everything. And life shows you another opportunity to learn. Like, my friend, you are never too big. Yeah. And especially football, football is about moment. You can have a good season, next year you have a bad season. But the year after, amazing. So, the up and down and being here, you have to deal with a lot of things.

11:10Especially being a goalkeeper. Not only because you are coming from Inter, but also because great goalkeeper have passed. You're replacing David De Gea. David, not only David, you have us before David, we spoke about Edwin. You spoke about Peter Schmeier, they have done a lot of good things for this club. Also you guys, you guys have done amazing things for this club. And when you wear this jersey, it's heavier. But, depends how you say this. For me, it's a strong motivation. Because you guys are being fantastic, you guys want everything. And we have to try to do similar like you, even if it's not easy at the moment.

11:49Is it difficult when ex-players criticise the team? Does it hurt more or does it feel like it makes it more difficult? To be honest, for me, I don't pay attention about it. No, that's the right thing to do. I'm always the one who said, listen, I came in this team to take bullets. Because we are in reconstruction. At the moment we are not the best. we have other teams who are doing better than us. We have to, to be honest, we have to recognize that. But if things and when things are going wrong, don't go for the youngest one. I'm here to take it. Bruno is there. Cassie is there. Ari is there. We are used to it.

12:34But when you see this for people who want everything, who was sitting, where I'm sitting today. Sometimes it's bizarre, like we are in the same boat. Yeah. You know, we just try to follow you. Yeah. your thing, what you did. For me, I don't mind, but you... Maybe for other people, they're going to get affected. But for me, to be honest, it's just part of the game. You have had to face 600 shots on your goal. 20 shots every game come at you. You've got the best save ratio in the league. I mean, the amount of shots you've had to face is crazy. How do we explain that? That's the one thing that...

13:14You know, I was a defender and sometimes you can see shots. Of course you do, you can see goals, we make mistakes. But that amount of shots on your goal is incredible. Yes, but it's a price to pay. And everything is temporary. Last season they didn't face that. And I'm sure 100 % next season we will not face this amount of shots. You think it's just this season? But why has it happened? Because it's football. Because it's football. Sometimes I think it's just a moment. and we face a lot of injury crisis. We lost a lot of important players. But of course, it's not an excuse. It's just a bad season for all of us and we have to stay positive as we are doing at the moment and I know everything will be all right.

14:05If it's not this season, of course, if this season is difficult, it will be next season. How challenging has it been for you having, I think you've had 13 different centre-back partnerships in front of you. How difficult has that been for you not to have that consistency in front of you? Obviously everyone talks about goalkeeper and centre-backs as being a critical part of the team. I don't think it's only for me, I think it's for the whole club. The whole team, yeah. The whole team, for the manager, for the staff or the whole staff, for the medical part, what we are facing is not nice for all of us.

14:39But we are Manchester United, we cannot use this as an excuse. So we have to deal with the situation. It's not only about me. Harry is playing with Kase. You don't know if he likes it or not. Kase is playing centre. These are the things. But we have to be pragmatic. And we have to look at what is best for the team. If I have to play striker, I will play striker. And Kase is doing a fantastic job for us. He's playing there because the team needs him there. Diogo sometimes is playing left back because the team needs him. And we can go point by point. Sometimes Bruno plays centre-back. I remember against Liverpool, Bruno was centre-back.

15:24Because the team needs him there. So we have to look at what is best for the team. Because for me, at the end of the day, we are United players. And when you are here, that means you have a good level. I was about to turn 18 and Barcelona bring in Ter Stegen. He was 22. And then I start to think like I want to have the opportunity to play.

15:52André, you've done a lot of work since 2016. You've set up the André Inanna Foundation, which has delivered medical care to thousands of people. Just talk to us a little bit about the work that you do. Well, I started my foundation years ago. why because I came from a foundation as well and people helped me a lot to become who I am today so I believe I think for me also it's time to give something back and I started my foundation like 6-7 years ago helping blind people because I know the reality in my country it's difficult for a lot of people and imagine if it's already difficult for you having your parents and when you don't have them and you're blind, it's even harder.

16:46So from there I start to do some things, helping them, try to give them a smile, try to help them how I can. Not saying I'm going to change the life of everyone, but I'm trying to do what I can. Of course, I also have a lot of people who are helping me. So together we try to do something nice. and we started with young children, but now we are doing for adults, we're doing a lot of things for a lot of people. You said you grew up in a foundation. What does that mean? Just to people obviously in the UK, what would that mean in Cameroon where you grew up? Well, because I played for a foundation when I was in Cameroon.

17:29So that's why I decided also to have a foundation to help people because I have some people who helped me back in the days. So for me, it's a way to pay back to those people who helped me years ago. And now you're doing some work in Manchester. You've been to the Royal Children's Hospital today. Just talk about what you're doing in Manchester. It's almost the same thing. Try to make them happy because everyone has their own fight. We are fighting on the pitch. They are fighting off. And for some of them, they will have surgeries. but this is more important than what we are doing because they are fighting for their life.

18:07And it's my way to give them support, to tell them we are with you guys, you know, we will not be there in the operation but we feel you, you know, you guys, we be strong, it's a big fight and I'm sure you guys are going to win it. When you play football, you can see that you play with a big heart. You've obviously off the pitch got a big heart as well. Is it the most important thing to you that you're a good person off the pitch? Is that sort of the foundation of your life and your values and your principles? Yes, I think it's very important because, of course, football is a game for emotion, but it's 90 minutes.

18:43After that, you have your own life, you have a private life, you have your friendship, you have people around who help you, you have people who need you. So it's important to manage that because, of course, football is our job. But besides that, you also have an important thing to do. What was growing up in Cameroon like? Talk to us about your parents and your family and sort of the upbringing that you had. It's different, you know. Talking about my country, it's always giving me a smile because it's nice. For me, it's the best country in the world. And I grew up differently than European children because it's another mentality.

19:22It's another culture. But it's nice, you know. And also I had a pleasure to travel a lot, to open my mind, to see how it is in Spain, to see how it is in Holland, to see how it is in Italy, to see how it is here. So when you have this opportunity, you find out the most important thing is the relationship because we pay too much attention for things that are not important. That's why today I went to the hospital because this life is in football. it's about moment. Everything is temporary, you have good and bad moments and it's just great. Cameroon, we grow like... It's difficult to explain myself in English because I have so many memories and I hope we'll have time to share.

20:11And what's going to Barcelona like? I mean, that must have been like, wow, what an experience, what a change in your life, what courage to actually just get up and go and leave. It was one of the most important decision I made but I made that decision without thinking. I was not the one who decided, I remember that the club with who I was playing, they already had the agreement for me in Barcelona but I was the only one who didn't know. So they sold you almost or they let you go without knowing? Not without knowing, let me explain. It's a funny story because I remember I was in Douala and I received a call for my mom who was supposed to travel maybe in two days and my mom she's telling me Andre yes you travel in two days but make sure you take all your stuff I'm like why I'm gonna take all my stuff no because you never know just take all your stuff why she she didn't she don't want to tell me because if she tell me I'm going to play for Barcelona I would tell all my friends in the So she didn't want that, you know, she want me to be quiet because for someone who's coming from Cameroon and you have the opportunity to play for Barcelona, it's something huge.

21:27And she did right because if she told me that time, I would say to the whole country, I'm going to Barcelona because it's something big. I cannot hide that information. And then I received the call. Make sure you go visit with everything. and when I arrived in Barcelona, then I see a van over there, they bring me direct to Barcelona Academy. And then I arrived there, I had to do the trial, and I made the trial, it went good. Then I stayed five or six years in Barcelona. Talk to us about that five or six years in Barcelona and what you learnt and how you grew up and how it was moving away from your parents and obviously all that stability that you had.

22:08It was great. Today it was really good, but at the moment, at that time it was difficult because you are moving to another country, you don't speak the language, you don't have experience about that country, you don't know anything. Of course you have some teammates who speak French, but it's not the same. But we had a great time there, you know, we were living in La Masia, it was a very good place to be, you were training the best pitch, great club, fantastic people, and you were learning every day. For me, it was a great time. I had a great, great, great time in Barcelona. And yeah, I have a lot of teammates who are playing high level as well.

22:50When I think back, what we did there, it was just amazing. And I'm very grateful for what we have done. I read that you, did you turn down or reject a contract in the end at Barcelona and you left? That takes a lot, eh? I mean, that's a great club. It's one of the best clubs in the world. You've been there for a few years. Why did you... What made you turn it down? Well, because in the end of the day for me, that time it was important to play somewhere. And of course, I was training with the second team, sometimes with the first team. And I remember the sports director was Subi Sarita, that time.

23:33and we were having an negotiation to renew my contract and what they were telling me is not what I found out in the end because when you when I was talking with them they were like Andre we count on you we make sure we make sure you if you continue working how you're working you have a chance and to tribunals sometimes you have to accept the reality and you have to recognize other people are also good as well and I was 17 I was about to turn 18 and Barcelona bring in Ter Stegen he was 22 after three weeks or four weeks they bring Bravo so in the same period and then I start to think like it's not enough space for me, I wouldn't have the opportunity to play.

24:31So I was looking for options at Arsenal, at Chelsea, at other clubs. You went to speak to Arsenal and Chelsea at the time? Yes. We did my agent, spoke with them that time. But in the end I decided to go to Ajax because for me it was important to be in the first team somewhere and then from there on we'll see what's going to happen. and when I had the opportunity to join Ajax, I was so happy. The principles of Barcelona and Ajax, there's a lot of crossover in terms of the styles of play. I always think the way in which the club's history is developed, very clear philosophy. Was that an influence on your decision that you'd grown up in the Barcelona academy?

25:11Huge influence in Barcelona of obviously Johan Cruyff. You think about obviously the influence on Ajax. Did that come into your thinking or not? No, that time, no. No? No, because I was just looking for a better option for me. and it was important for me to look for my career and I was looking also for a league where I can start earlier. That moment it was one of the biggest clubs who can give you easy the opportunity to show yourself and time gives me a right. Do you think, obviously, you're great with your feet. Do you think that must have been helped enormously by growing up in the Barcelona Academy and then obviously going to a club like Ajax?

25:50Were you already like that? No, it's not about defeat because in the end of the day, we are goalkeepers, you know, we adapt about the system. You know, last season, we were not playing from the back. Within team, you mean? Within team, we were not playing that much. The thing is, it's the system and the modern goalkeeper adapt with the system. Like I would take an example with the play we have. We cannot go long all the time. We have to keep the ball. So I try to look and we try to look together as a team, what is the best for us to perform. So I adapt myself with the system, with the tactic. Is it concentration?

26:29Is it something you speak about? Concentration? Yeah. In our level, we don't have to speak about concentration. It will not always rain, the sun will come and shine.

26:44Hi, everyone. I hope you're enjoying this episode. This is just a quick thank you to Skybet, our partners, for making this show happen. It's something I've wanted to do for a long, long time. Please subscribe. There's loads more episodes coming up and I hope you're enjoying it. I want to ask you about the manager, Eric Tanhar, because you had, obviously, you played with them at Ajax and you played some of the most wonderful football. What are the main differences and challenges you think that he faces here compared to at Ajax when the football was amazing and this season it's been challenging at United?

27:16How has he changed from being at one club to another? What's the difference you see in him? I don't see any difference. I think he's the same guy. The same coaching, same sessions? Listen, we are the same guys. We are the same players. We are the same manager I knew when I was in Ajax. He will not change in one or two years. I'm not here to back him because he's big enough to... But you've worked with him before. Yes, but last season it was fantastic for him. So it's just a bad season. Also for me. Last season I was the best. So this season we have a different goalkeeper. No, it's the same guy.

27:56He's just facing a difficult situation. And we are big enough to accept the reality. Because if we want to make things worse, we have to accept the reality. And we have to go front foot. So I think he's the same manager, he's just facing different and difficult situations and hopefully things become good for him. How excited are you about the future at Manchester United? About what you can achieve? Because what you saw against Liverpool in the game, that's probably the best atmosphere. You've seen what Manchester United, what Old Trafford can be. How excited are you about delivering that on a consistent basis?

28:37When I look at how we play against top teams, that means we can... We could be fighting for the Premier League, but like I said, I'm very excited for the future because we have a lot of good young players who are coming, we have a lot of good experienced players, so we just have to find a good mix and I think next year it will be very good. How do you explain that you play well? Coventry is an example, 3-0, and then all of a sudden, how do you explain those moments in matches that sometimes occur? Because it's happened quite a bit. You're an experienced player. What do you think it is that just happens where something just...

29:18Where did that come from? Because it's football. No one can explain football. It's football. But you just think that happens. You think that there's no reason for it happening. Everything happens for a reason. But is it concentration? Is it something you speak about? Concentration? I think in our level, we don't have to speak about concentration because when you're already there, you perform on a high level. But we are just facing bad situation and we are just facing a bad season. And sometimes you have own goal, you have deflections. There are things you cannot control in life. So we try to adapt, we try to be pragmatic.

30:01but the most important things for me is not what already passed. It's what we're going to do tomorrow because against Coventry, we cannot change anything anymore. It's done. It's over. Now we have to sit in front. How do you stop it happening again? What do you do to try this? I'm doing what we are doing. Working hard, believing on ourselves, staying together. It's what we have been doing these years and I know the hard work will pay. I don't know if it's tomorrow, but I know it will play. If not tomorrow, it will be after tomorrow. Is the training every day intense? You've watched the training, obviously you've played at Inter Milan at a high level at Ajax.

30:40Is the training at United this season the level of intensity that you've seen before at previous clubs? The training is good. I don't think we have to talk about it because the training is good. We are enjoying the training and in the end it's our job. So when we are enjoying it, we play our games, small games there. We have fun and we battle each other. How is Steve McLaren? Do you do any of the training now or is it mainly Eric that does the training? No, they are doing it all together. We have a big squad. We actually have nice people with who we are working with. Not only Steve, we have Fletch as well.

31:19Maybe you might know him. We have good people. We have been in McCarthy who are doing fantastic job for us. and they are working all together, to be honest. And for us, we are just... I'm proud to work with them. I coached at Valencia for four months. I got sacked. And the goalkeeping in Valencia was so different. So in England, the goalkeepers used to come out early, do the goalkeeping work, and then they go, what happens now? What's your training every day? Do you train with the players all the way through the possession? No, it depends. Sometimes we come out earlier, sometimes not depending.

31:55Sometimes you have three games in the week, it's difficult to push. You have to manage yourself because in the end of the day we are all big players, so we know what we need. But we have great goalkeeper coaches and they are doing fantastic, fantastic job. So sometimes we are with the team, we do the build-ups, it depends. Also depends against who you play. The preparation against City is not the same preparation against Coventry. Yeah. You know, because against City, you know, you run more behind the ball. Against Coventry, you probably have more than the position. But we are fine. How important has the FA Cup become now, obviously, getting to the final, second year on the run, playing against Manchester City?

32:39I feel like the whole season is sort of built around this match now. Do you feel that in the dressing room? Yeah, it's a very important game for us, especially when you're in the final, is to win because we always remember the winner. So we'll go there to win. Like I said, we are Manchester United. That's the matter of games we play. We cannot go thinking we will lose. Otherwise, it's better if we don't step on the pitch. We'll go there to win. We have important players, good players with a lot of personality, a lot of experience. Bruno, me, Harry, Victor, we have a lot of big players. So we'll go there to win.

33:13And final question, a message from Manchester United fans from you. Thank you for the support. First of all, it has been a very, very difficult season. For us, for me as well, especially in the beginning, we have to stay together. Yeah. Because it will not rain. It will not always rain. The sun will come and I hope we're all going to enjoy the sun when it's going to shine. because the situation will turn. If it's not today, it will be tomorrow. And together is the only way to turn the situation. I hope it shines on May the 25th, on the cup final day. Thank you. Well done, Andre. Well, I would like to give you something, prepare something for you.

33:59Oh, thank you. That's the first time someone's ever given me a gift. Well, it's a show for you, with your name. I don't think I'll be able to fit in that now. Brilliant. Great to see you. Well done. Thank you, Andre. Thank you, Grace. Thank you.