Andre Onana deserves credit for showing ‘character’ after owning up to his glaring error during Manchester United’s 4-3 loss to Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, insists Rio Ferdinand. 

United’s No 1 was guilty of a clanger to allow Leroy Sane’s shot to bounce into the net despite getting a hand on the ball before the Red Devils ended up being outclassed by their German opponents. 

Onana immediately came out after the game to front up for his mistake and said it set the tone for a bad performance – and his courage won praise from United legend Ferdinand who admitted he would not have been brave enough to confront the media after a howler.

Speaking on TNT Sports, Ferdinand said: ‘We have all been in the situation where we haven’t performed to the standard that we set ourselves. I have had games where I made mistakes and did not speak to the media. That showed good character, he’s made of the right stuff. 

Rio Ferdinand insisted Andre Onana deserves credit for facing up to his blunder vs Bayern

Onana then requested to speak to the media after the game and said the result was his fault

‘He will have to fall back on that character and make sure he gets rid of those mistakes from his game. It is difficult to build yourself back up when the ball comes to you and you’ve made a couple of mistakes.’

Ferdinand’s former United team-mate Paul Scholes took a harsher view, claiming the £47m goalkeeper was making too many mistakes and urged him to ‘get over’ his error-strewn displays. 

‘He has been less than convincing in goal, stopping goals, which is why he is there,’ Scholes said. ‘He is brilliant with his feet but he is making mistakes. He has to get over that. You make mistakes and have disappointments in games. 

‘He might think about it for 24 hours but then it’s gone. The spotlight will be on him. He has been at a big club in Inter Milan, so he’ll know that and hopefully he will do better.’

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Ferdinand added: ‘He will need the confidence of his team-mates. You need help as well.’

Onana was bold after the game as he specifically requested to talk to the press following the defeat – saying the result was on him as he stressed he was not happy with how his Old Trafford career had begun.

Onana admitted his start to life at Manchester United has been nowhere near good enough 

Ten Hag praised Onana for owning up to his mistake but said the team must share the blame

‘We didn’t win because of me,’ Onana admitted. ‘We started well but after my mistake we lost control. I’m the one who let the team down. I owe it to the fans to improve.’

Onana wasn’t finished there, adding: ‘This was my worst game. I’ve got a lot to prove, because to be honest my start with Manchester United is not so good.

‘Today is one of my worst games. It was a big opportunity for us to bounce back from the pressure we’re facing, but it’s tough. We have to be together.’

Erik ten Hag praised his goalkeeper for fronting up for his mistake but stressed that progress for United will be down to the team as a whole, not just one individual.

‘It’s good that he’s doing that but it’s about the team,’ the Dutchman added. ‘Mistakes are being made but you have to bounce back as a team.

‘We have to believe as a team that we can always bounce back. We showed that tonight, even after the mistakes we made.’