Andre Onana pinpoints Man Utd 'turning point' as teammates' message detailed

Andre Onana admits it took him 'six or seven months' to start feeling positive at Manchester United but thanks his teammates for keeping him optimistic during a difficult period.

Onana's start to life at United has been a rollercoaster, albeit one with more downs than ups, following his £47.2m move from Inter Milan in the summer. The 27-year-old enjoyed a last-minute game-saving penalty stop in the Champions League win against FC Copenhagen but has seen his first season at Old Trafford littered with errors.

Crucial mistakes in Europe saw United finish bottom of their group with just one win in six, while Onana's quality has been constantly questioned domestically. Recent weeks have shown a notable improvement, however, and while it is far from perfect the Cameroon international is more optimistic about what the future holds.

“It took me six months or seven months not to play good, just to feel good," Onana told the Manchester Evening News. "It was a difficult time for me. Now I'm feeling a bit better. Everything was new, it was difficult for me to feel at home because [of] so many reasons; new country. Now I'm feeling good.

Watch Michael Plant’s run through of Erik ten Hag’s pre-derby press conference here.

"I had a difficult six or seven months just feeling good, not playing good because I didn’t think I started to play good. So, it was just something strange, I don’t know. It was a good time for me to learn because I learned a lot at that time. Playing in the final of the Champions League and being knocked out in the first stage after a few months later… it was a big lesson for me.

“My teammates, they always reminded me who I am and the goalkeeper I am and why I came to this club. They told me, 'Andre, it took some players two years, for others six months and others no time. You have that personality to turn the situation [around].' They always believed in me and told me from the beginning, 'Andre, the quality is there, it’s just a matter of time.'  I had a turning point - but not on the pitch. Like I said… more mental. Of course, last season I moved from Amsterdam to Milan but that adaptation was quite easy. But it took me seven, eight months here. It was just time to learn and go game by game. I hope we will end on top.”