Erik ten Hag is set to double down on playing from the back this season, with Andre Onana already impressing his teammates with his ability with his feet.
The 27-year-old is known for his passing and it is that footwork that convinced Ten Hag to push for a reunion with his former Ajax goalkeeper, paying Inter £44m to make him the club’s new No.1.
Onana trained with his new teammates a few times at United’s Pingry School training base in New Jersey and he warmed up with the rest of the squad at MetLife Stadium on Saturday but was not in the squad for the 2-0 win against Arsenal.
He is likely to make his debut against Real Madrid in Houston on Wednesday, but with the training base moving on to San Diego on Sunday, he is already showing what he can do with his feet, with veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton already seeing why Ten Hag wanted Onana.
“I can already see how he’s going to fit into the manager’s style. He looks really good with his feet and I’m already picking up a bit about how he does things a bit differently to what I’ve seen before,” he said.
“I know I’m moving on, but I’m still trying to adapt, still trying to learn all the time. I’m enjoying that side of it and we’ll see what he brings in.”
Onana played 145 times under Ten Hag for Ajax, but spent just one year at Inter after joining the club on a free transfer. He had an excellent campaign in last season’s Champions League, playing very well in the final against Manchester City and earning praise from Pep Guardiola.
“I haven’t seen a massive amount of him to be honest. I watched the Champions League final and saw bits and pieces,” Heaton said.
“In the Premier League we have Ederson and Alisson and they have changed that goalkeeping side a bit. Most teams play that way now. Onana has joined us now. Time will tell.
“I think Pep said it was difficult for them to get high when he was playing like that. I was really impressed with him in that game and I’m looking forward to working with him, competing with him and we’ll see how it plays out.”
David de Gea struggled to fulfill Ten Hag’s desire to play from the back last season, which was part of the reason the Spaniard was eventually allowed to leave the club when his contract expired.
Heaton believes the early signs in training are that Ten Hag plans to go even further this year with his attempts to get United to play from the goalkeeper. The first goal against Arsenal came from a Heaton pass to Kobbie Mainoo and Ten Hag turned to his goalkeeper to praise him for the approach during the celebrations.
“I think the way he wants to play, we’re all adapting a little bit. We were last season and this season and this season, he wants to take it on again,” he said.
“It’s been good. We want to build from the back. If it’s not in place, one of the options goes further.”
Onana has come in to replace De Gea as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, but there is still uncertainty in the group. Dean Henderson is in the United States but has not played as he eases back from a thigh injury and is the subject of interest from Nottingham Forest, with a move likely.
Heaton had the option on his contract, but the 37-year-old was wanted by Premier League newcomers Luton Town and, after three appearances in two years since his return to Old Trafford, is desperate to play more regularly before the curtain falls on his career.
He intends to speak to Ten Hag at some point during the summer when the picture in the group becomes clearer, but after playing the full 90 minutes in the 2-0 win against Arsenal at the MetLife Stadium, it has only reinforced the desire to play more often, especially with time ticking on his career.
Asked if his age made the desire to play even greater, Heaton said: “Yes, I think that’s the honest answer. The two games I played last season I really enjoyed it and it increases the appetite. I’m still hungry to play.
“There’s still that drive to play. I got the opportunity to play against Arsenal, a strong Arsenal at the MetLife Stadium, you want to take that on. It’s not the feeling, the energy in your body that you miss and I miss that to be honest.
“I love it here. I’ve been part of this football club for a long time, but I also love playing. I can’t lie, you see it today, so I want to sit down and talk and see where we go.”
Ten Hag would be reluctant to lose Heaton’s experience, with the former England international part of the management group last season, a role he enjoyed despite his lack of game time on the pitch.
“I’m a senior player, I’ve been a footballer for a long time, I was at this football club before and came back,” he said.
“We have lots of managers in our dressing room and get together if things need to be addressed or sorted or talk to the manager. Just general things really.
“With this football club sometimes things can be blown out of proportion and highlighted but that’s just the day-to-day operation of how things go. The expectations. This club sets the highest possible standards and you look to the management team to really set those standards.
“I was part of it last season and I hope to progress as well. The manager really put it together. He organizes it.”