Onana increases long passes due to team challenges

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana is changing his passing style this season. Instead of primarily short passes to build up plays, he increasingly opts for long kicks. This shift is due to both the team's current challenges and specific instructions from head coach Ruben Amorim. Onana, who joined United in July 2023 for €55 million, was expected to enhance the team's build-up play. While he still uses short passes most of the time, he has recently started to launch the ball more often. In fact, he is now among the top five Premier League goalkeepers for long passes. However, his success rate with these long balls has been low, completing only about a quarter of his attempts. The change in strategy is intentional. Amorim's coaching staff advised Onana to go long when short options are risky. This decision comes as United's overall build-up play has struggled. With key defender Lisandro Martinez injured, the team has faced difficulties in maintaining possession. In recent matches, Onana has been launching over 20 long passes per game. This approach was notably highlighted during a match against Arsenal, where he attempted 29 long balls. Despite this, the players meant to receive these passes, like Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho, have not been effective in aerial duels, making it harder for the long passes to connect. The team's issues with possession are evident. United has lost the ball in their defensive third frequently this season, ranking sixth in the Premier League for such mistakes. Furthermore, since Amorim took over, they have struggled to create scoring opportunities from lengthy passing sequences. Currently, Onana's willingness to go long seems necessary for the team, especially given their challenges in playing from the back. As they continue to adapt, looking for alternatives like long passes may be the best strategy to navigate their current limitations.