Pep Guardiola believes Andre Onana's penalty heroics in the Champions League will give the under-fire goalkeeper a confidence boost ahead of the Manchester derby on Sunday.
Guardiola is a long-term admirer of the Cameroonian, singling him out as Inter Milan’s most dangerous player ahead of last season’s Champions League final which Manchester City won 1-0 to claim a historic treble.
Since moving to Manchester United in the summer, Onana has made a number of errors but he preserved an important 1-0 Champions League win over Copenhagen in midweek with a penalty save in added time.
Onana was mobbed by his team-mates in the aftermath and will now head into this weekend with his spirits raised, according to Guardiola, who has been well aware of the ex-Ajax shot-stopper for several years.
The Manchester City boss said: "I remember we have a common friend who spoke very highly of him but personally I met him in Amsterdam. He’s an exceptional player and now at United.
"Before the game I always expect the best of the players we are going to face. I prefer to see the strengths than the weakness they have.
"He saved a penalty in the last minute which helped Manchester United to stay in contention to qualify for the last 16. Mentally it’s a good boost for them and for him.
"Everyone needs time (to adapt to the Premier League), not just the managers but players, keepers. Everyone. Sometimes people are quicker but I have a high opinion of him as a keeper."
Jack Grealish was restored to City’s starting XI for their 3-1 Champions League victory at Swiss outfit Young Boys on Wednesday and he stood out on the left wing before his influence waned after half-time.
The England midfielder has recently been a bit-part figure following a month on the sidelines with a dead leg and he has been on the bench for City’s four most recent Premier League matches.
But Guardiola, who will be without suspended defender Manuel Akanji for the visit to Old Trafford after his dismissal in the win over Brighton last weekend, says Grealish is still integral to his thinking.
"The plan is for him to play like he did in Switzerland," Guardiola said. "We need him, we need everyone. I am very pleased for the game he played.
"We trust a lot in him. We know his ability and he has to fight with his mates to play a lot and play as best as possible in every single action, every single minute, every single game."
Second-placed City are already six points ahead of their rivals after just nine fixtures but Guardiola insisted it is too soon to be making definitive judgements on the campaign.
"It’s too early," Guardiola added. "All the teams are there and the teams behind can be there.
"When you play just nine games, many things can happen from my experience. We have been behind with few points in February and March and have been able to win at the end."
Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag knows Manchester United "have a way to go" as they look to kickstart their season with a statement derby victory.
The Red Devils’ three-game winning streak has not being entirely unconvincing. They required their latest ever Premier League comeback to beat Brentford 2-1 before an international break they returned from with a win by the same scoreline at rock-bottom Sheffield United.
Ten Hag’s team toiled to that third straight victory in all competitions on Tuesday thanks to Onana.
It was another narrow escape for a United side that need to be far better if they are to stand any chance of winning the 191st Manchester derby.
"We are in the right direction, and we have a way to go," Red Devils boss Ten Hag said.
"I see positives, I see also negatives. We are not consistently, in possession, on the level where we can be, where we show in games we can be.
"Like for instance, Arsenal away. Also, the first 30 minutes in Bayern Munich away. But we should do this on a consistent basis.
"But pressing, we are quite good. We have the most ball regains from the whole Premier League, we have the most middle regains from the whole Premier League.
"So, there you see, our defensive organisation, our pressing organisation. I said before the season how we wanted to play, that is us.
"But then, we don’t take the benefit in the attacking transition moments, and we should be because we have the abilities in our team, the players there who can take benefit from it.
"We paid some attention to it, and this has to grow, this has to progress. Then games will become easier."
United’s spate of defensive injuries has undoubtedly impacted them this term, so too their inability to show a clinical edge in front of goal.
Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial have only managed one goal apiece this term, while summer signing Rasmus Hojlund is looking to open his Premier League account after scoring three European goals.
Asked if the lack of goals was the forwards’ fault, Ten Hag said: "Fault? It’s co-operation and that has to click.
"We showed this week some examples where we are in overload positions going to the opponents’ goal and we don’t net, or we don’t even hit the target. We should do this better.
"I’m sure we don’t have time to train this fact, but we get some coaching and I’m convinced with the qualities from our players, that they will go and score more goals."
The form of Rashford – who scored the winner when these sides last met at Old Trafford back in January – has been particularly alarming.
The England forward has looked a shadow of the player that plundered 30 goals in 2022-23 during the opening months of the current campaign, but there is confidence he will soon open the floodgates.
"Especially give him the trust, I play him every game," Ten Hag said. "Most of the games also he finishes. I have a strong belief he will return to scoring a lot of goals."
