Two Andre Onanas have stepped foot in the European club finals. The Manchester United goalkeeper has also had to taste bitter results twice. Two finals, two defeats for Andre Onana ahead of the 2024/2025 Europa League final.
Manchester United will play the Europa League final at the San Mames Stadium on Thursday (22/5). The opponent that Ruben Amorim’s team will face is fellow English club Tottenham.
For Man United, the Europa League final has a very important meaning. Because, after being battered in the Premier League, the Europa League trophy is the only way to end the 2024/2025 season sweetly. Failure is a major disaster for Man United.
However, in the midst of Man United’s ambition to win the trophy, there is a ‘curse’ that Andre Onana might bring to the final for the Red Devils. The goalkeeper from Cameroon has a minor record when it comes to playing in European club finals.
The dark memories haunt Andre Onana’s steps ahead of the 2024/2025 Europa League final with Manchester United. He seems to have a ‘curse’ with defeats in two European club finals.
Onana’s poor record in European finals is not just a figment of the imagination. In the 2016/2017 season, with Ajax Amsterdam, which at that time was filled with talented young players, Onana had to admit Manchester United’s superiority in the Europa League final. The score of 2-0 was a silent witness to the misery of De Godenzonen and the goalkeeper from Cameroon.
The wound had not completely healed, when fate brought him back to the peak of European competition. With Inter Milan in the 2022/2023 Champions League final, Onana performed brilliantly under the crossbar.
However, the prowess of Erling Haaland and the solidity of Manchester City’s back line finally dashed the Nerazzurri’s dreams and once again, Onana had to taste the bitter pill of defeat with a narrow score of 1-0.
Two finals, two defeats. The label of ‘runner-up specialist’ in European competitions is certainly not the title Onana wants. However, football always offers a new page.
Now, wearing a Manchester United uniform, Onana is again standing on the threshold of the Europa League final. Fate seems to have given him a third chance to break the ‘curse’.
Outside of the European stage final, Andre Onana has fond memories of several final matches. He once led Man United to win the FA Cup final. He also won the KNVB Beker with Ajax Amsterdam and the Supercopa Italiana with Inter Milan.
Regardless of Andre Onana’s individual record, Man United must be really ready for the Europa League final. This is because Man United has a minor record against Tottenham in the 2024/2025 season. Man United has always lost in the last three meetings with Tottenham.
“Regardless of the results, the fact that we have played Tottenham this season really helps me in preparing the team,” said Man United manager, Ruben Amorim.
“We won’t win just because of physicality. We can put pressure on opponents like Real Sociedad physically. However, this time, we don’t have that advantage,” continued the former Portugal National Team player.
