Nottingham Forest picked up three points against Manchester United in the Premier League. An episode from this match governed Thursday’s strategy in the Europa League. The Viktoria Plzen coach had a clear message for her players before the game: Send the ball towards the Manchester United goalkeeper, regardless of angle and distance.
The game against Forest was a heavy reminder for Andre Onana and the United supporters of last season. The David de Gea replacement had a horrible first part of his debut season, a few spectacular saves did not make up for one giant blunder after another.
This season, Onana has started as one of the league’s best goalkeepers, then came Morgan Gibbs-White’s long-range shot in the second half, a shot the Forest player himself said he didn’t believe in. It was a goal.
In the Europa League on Thursday, Manchester United ended with a 1-2 victory, but Onana started with a goalkeeping blunder just after half-time and lead for the Czech club.
After the game, the Viktoria Plzen coach told what he had said to the players before the game.
-Yes, that was our tactic,” he said. “I told them to shoot from every possible opportunity,” the coach stated according to Goal.
After the Forest blunder, this was a deliberate strategy to stress Onana. Manchester United supporters can have some nerve-wracking games ahead when other opponents do the same. Andre Onana is back faltering. Then it will rain shots at the Manchester United cage.
