COMMENT: He tipped it. As soon as Andre Onana arrived, Erik ten Hag told Manchester United fans to expect a "change". And after his first two appearances, it's fair to say the manager's prediction was right...
He's no shrinking violet, is he? Indeed, you can say Onana is a magnet. For news. For scrutiny. Manchester United have found themselves a big goalkeeper with a big personality. Or as the Cameroonian has put it himself, "I'm the big man at the back".
A bawling out of sacked captain Harry Maguire. Being beaten from the halfway line against Lens. As we say, Onana is a magnet. He generates news - for good and bad. But beyond the headlines, the reviews of Onana's first two appearances should be positive. Indeed, it should be more than that. What Onana has offered is a potential shift. A transformation of how United not only will play, but are also organised.
Ten Hag hinted as much last week: "He's a great goalkeeper and has a different profile. That's why we wanted to sign him.
"With him, something will change in our game."
The Dutchman didn't go into detail. But why should he? Better to let the player do the talking with his performance. Which is exactly what United's new No1 has done.
The Maguire exchange was just that - an exchange. It lasted barely seconds. A flash moment across 90 minutes. Of course, it was dissected, analysed and pored over in minute detail. But there was really nothing in it.
Instead, if fans were to take a step back and consider Onana's overall style of game, you can see why Ten Hag raised the idea of "change". A change that should lift the standard of defending ahead of him. This isn't about a screaming, ranting keeper demanding better from his teammates. Instead, it's about having a loud, vocal organiser behind them bellowing out positioning and marking orders. Something United haven't had - at least at the class of Onana - for the 12 years.
This is no knock on David de Gea. It just wasn't in his game. It wasn't part of his personality. For better or worse, the Spaniard left the back four to organise themselves. With his talent. His ability. De Gea was always confident he could cover any mistakes made by those ahead of him.
Onana isn't like that. Not as a player. Nor as a personality. He wants to be involved. With his passing. With his barking. The "big man" demands to always be part of the game. And for this United defence, you fancy such a change will be welcomed.
Again, this isn't about that Maguire flashpoint. It's about United now having a loud, brash personality between the posts able to organise the back four and beyond. For the team. For it's culture. It's a transformative moment. Not since the days of Treble winner Peter Schmeichel have United had such a character defending their goal. Indeed for this column, Onana is the nearest thing we've seen to the Dane since he left for Sporting 24 years ago.
''I demand a lot of my team-mates because also they demand a lot, they trust in me,'' said Onana in midweek. ''They play a lot of balls back to me, so I have to give them confidence and I want my players to give them to me to give me confidence.
''I demand [from] them a lot and I will demand from them a lot because they are great player."
My players. My teammates. Onana is barely a fortnight into his United career and is already claiming ownership of those around him. As we say, he's no shrinking violet, is he?
Which is exactly why Ten Hag brought his old Ajax No1 to Old Trafford. The passing game was highlighted. His year with Inter Milan earned him endorsements from the good and great of Italian football. But it's that personality Ten Hag was seeking. The grinta, as we've discussed in past columns, of Casemiro, Antony and Lisandro Martinez. A strength of will. Of self-belief. Onana boasts the same.
After all, this is the same player who stared down Rigobert Song, the Cameroon coach, at last year's World Cup. Who refused to compromise with Samuel Eto'o, the federation's president. To take on two such giants is proof enough of the strength of personality Onana possesses.
And this is why Ten Hag alerted United fans to expect "change" with Onana as their No1. Talented. Dynamic. But beyond that, a keeper with an on-field personality reminiscent of Peter Schmeichel.
United's defenders haven't had anything like this for over two decades. And early signs are they'll be better off for it.
