Ten Hag demands both positivity and pragmatism from erratic Onana

André Onana struggled after joining Manchester United but has impressed in recent games, including saving a penalty against FC Copenhagen. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

Erik ten Hag smiles when asked if André Onana can be the “holding midfielder” for Manchester United described in Uefa’s technical report of the goalkeeper’s display for Internazionale in May’s Champions League final.

“First the job of a keeper is to save, is to [guard] his goal, that’s his main job and don’t forget this,” says United’s manager. “But, yeah, he is a keeper who we can use as an extra player and if we are developing [more] he can be more progressive and even higher up the pitch – an extra player, so that’s an advantage.”