Louis Saha ripped into Manchester United and Andre Onana after a shocking first half display saw Ruben Amorim’s side go 2-0 down against Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup second round.
United endured a dismal 45 minutes at Blundell Park, with goals from Charles Vernam and Tyrell Warren putting the League Two side on course for a major shock.
Onana should’ve done better for both goals, allowing Vernam’s effort to beat him at his near post before he flapped at a corner, leaving Warren to tap the ball home into an empty net.
It could have been worse for United after Cameron Gardner had a goal disallowed for handball but there was no doubting this was one of their worst halves in history.
Former Red Devils striker Louis Saha was left aghast at what he had seen and was particularly damning in his assessment of Onana.
‘It is shambolic, shocking (defending),’ the Frenchman told ITV Sport. ‘They don’t have the legs, those mistakes are correctly punished by Grimsby, they’ve done really well so credit to them.
Man United endured a dismal first half against Grimsby as they went 2-0 down at Blundell Park
Andre Onana was at fault for both goals after being recalled to the starting line up for the clash
‘But it’s horrific mistakes again from Onana so we lost this first half.’
Grimsby’s second goal was classed as the ninth mistake Onana has made leading to a goal since the start of last season and Saha couldn’t believe how poor the Cameroonian had been.
‘That is not excusable,’ he added. ‘It’s not clear where he’s coming out, there is no contact with the ball, his eyes aren’t even on it.
‘The first one (was a mistake) for him, the second one (was also a mistake) for him. So many mistakes. That’s not Man United and I think he knows it.’
Onana’s future at United has been uncertain this summer after a difficult campaign last time out.
Altay Bayindir has been favoured by Amorim so far this season, although the Cameroonian did miss much of pre-season through injury.
But it wasn’t just the defending and keeping that Saha had an issue with, but also the whole way United were playing on Wednesday night.
He said: ‘The tempo is not right, the crossing is half pace, they’re half-pressing. Those are not Man United (traits). Each time you do that to any team any league, there is an issue.’
Former Grimsby defender Danny Collins, who was on punditry duty alongside Saha, agreed with his colleague and added: ‘They’ve been a mess. Louis didn’t enjoy that.’
United did fight back to take the game to penalties thanks to goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire, but Amorim’s side were dumped out after losing 12-11 on penalties following an incredible shoot-out.
