MAN UNITED CONFIDENTIAL: Instinctive Andre Onana is living up to his Italian nickname, former youth...

Andre Onana relied on his instinct as a goalkeeper when he made the crucial penalty save that shifted the momentum of the match in Manchester United's favor against Southampton.

Teams often prepare by researching the penalty-takers of their opponents and share this information with their goalkeepers ahead of matches. However, Saints forward Cameron Archer had never taken a penalty in his professional career. According to sources, he wasn't included in the list provided to Onana by the coaching staff, which consisted of players like Ben Brereton Diaz and Adam Armstrong.

Onana's impressive penalty saves for Inter Milan led to him being called il gatto che vola, meaning “the flying cat,” in Italy. However, this time, he was on his own. The 28-year-old relied on his instincts and leaped to his right to block Archer's shot. Just eight minutes later, United had a two-goal lead, well on their way to a crucial 3-0 victory.

This marked the second significant penalty save of Onana's time with United, following his crucial save against Jordan Larsson that helped Erik ten Hag's team secure a Champions League victory against FC Copenhagen last season.

He also participated in two penalty shootouts during the pre-season, one against Arsenal in Los Angeles and another against Manchester City in the Community Shield at Wembley, where he made saves against Kai Havertz and Bernardo Silva. In both situations, Onana attempted to throw off the concentration of the penalty takers by using tactics to distract them, which drew an irritated reaction from Gabriel of Arsenal and a chuckle from Manchester City's striker, Erling Haaland.

Andre Onana made a crucial save during Manchester United's league victory against Southampton.

Cameron Archer wasn’t one of the players selected to take the penalty, leaving Onana to rely on his instincts.

Onana's save from the penalty was the second significant save of this kind during his time at Manchester United.

However, that didn’t take him very far, and he chose to avoid any conflict with Archer, even though the Saints player had to wait at the penalty spot for a while as VAR reviewed whether Diogo Dalot's foul on Tyler Dibling occurred inside the box.

Fans Face Increased Travel Chaos

Erik ten Hag appropriately criticized the Premier League and television networks for their scheduling after Manchester United's victory over Southampton on Saturday afternoon. However, the difficulties for the club's traveling supporters are expected to persist this weekend.

Last season, United reached out to the Premier League to express their dissatisfaction about being scheduled for more Saturday night matches at 8 PM than any other club. This included away games at Newcastle and Brentford, as well as evening matches against Crystal Palace and Chelsea.

However, it appears that the Premier League has overlooked their worries by scheduling Manchester United's match against Palace on Saturday at 5:30 PM. This timing will likely further add to the club's frustrations with the league.

Fans planning to take the train to the game are in a tight spot, as there’s only one direct train they can realistically catch back to Manchester after the match.

Erik ten Hag justifiably expressed frustration over his team's timetable following their second straight 12:30 pm kickoff.

Manchester United is set to head to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace late Saturday afternoon.

Barnsley No.2 Is The Father Of Utd Starlet

United's Carabao Cup match against Barnsley at Old Trafford on Tuesday night isn't the first time these two teams have faced each other in a cup competition this season, even though their last match was just a month ago.

In August, a United Under-21 team managed to rally from a two-goal deficit to secure a 3-2 victory over a youthful Barnsley squad at Oakwell during the EFL Trophy. That match marked the professional debut of United midfielder Jacob Devaney, a 17-year-old who happens to be the son of Barnsley's assistant manager, Martin Devaney. The younger Devaney will be on the opposing bench alongside manager Darrell Clarke when the teams face off again on Tuesday.

Jacob played an important role in the United Under-18 team that clinched the Treble last season, and in March, Ten Hag invited him to practice with the first team.

On Martin's X account, he has a featured post showing Jacob signing his initial professional contract with United. Looking back on his son's significant night facing Barnsley, Devaney Senior remarked, "It felt quite unusual, but it turned out perfectly."

It was truly meaningful for him to start his professional career in the town where he was born. This place holds a special significance for me, and having him debut against Barnsley was a memorable moment for all of us, including myself.

Jacob Devaney (on the right) kicked off his professional career with the team in August in a match against Barnsley.

His dad, Martin, will be in the coaching area when United faces the Yorkshire team on Tuesday night.

Looking back, I considered the intense pressure he faced. He's carrying the expectations of Manchester United, all while performing in front of his friends and family. I believe he managed it exceptionally well, and it will be a memorable experience for them that they'll cherish for a long time.

"Women's Opener: A Stand Just For Her"

When the women's team begins their WSL season at home against West Ham this Saturday, only one section of Old Trafford will be accessible to fans.

United has reached out to certain fans to inform them that their seating has been moved to the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand, allowing all supporters to sit together in that area.

An email from the club stated: "We’ve moved your seat to create the best experience for both fans and players. For this game, the only open section will be the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand."

It outlines the reasoning behind United's plan to lower the seating capacity of Old Trafford to 30,000 for their women's and academy matches. This is in the context of retaining the current stadium while constructing a new 100,000-seat venue nearby for the first team.

The women's team of Man United will kick off their season at Old Trafford, marking the first game there since they faced Chelsea at home in their last match of the previous season five months ago.

Kobbie Returns To School

Kobbie Mainoo has returned to his former school for the upcoming Manchester United documentary titled Lifeblood, which will be released on Friday.

This is the third installment of a series that takes a closer look at United's academy, known for developing a wealth of first-team talent, including Mainoo, who is the 246th graduate.

The England midfielder was caught on camera as he visited Cheadle Catholic Junior School, where he spoke with the students. During the conversation, one student asked Mainoo how he stays humble, to which he responded: "I’ve never been one to show off. I focus on working hard and ignore those who praise me too much. I appreciate the support, but I never let it go to my head."

Kobbie Mainoo has highlighted how crucial dedication and concentration have been in his journey to becoming a key player in the senior team.

McClair Sad Over McTominay's Departure

Brian McClair, who previously directed the youth academy at United, expresses his sadness over Scott McTominay's move to Napoli for £25.7 million this summer.

The choice to conclude McTominay's two-decade connection with United was affected by the rule that all of the earnings from selling homegrown players contribute entirely to the financial fair play calculations.

However, McClair also thinks that United recognized a chance to improve their central midfield by offloading McTominay and bringing in Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain for £50.5 million.

Scott McTominay transferred to Napoli towards the end of the summer transfer period for close to £26 million.

The club feels they have improved their squad by bringing in former PSG player Manuel Ugarte to replace the Scottish midfielder.

"I admit I have a personal bias since Scott is from Scotland and we share a birthday!" McClair shared with SportsBoom. "I remember when Scott faced some tough times during his early years in the academy, but I feel incredibly fortunate to have witnessed his journey as he developed into the man and footballer he is today."

It's always disappointing to see players who have been with the team since they were just eight years old no longer needed. It often feels like the focus has shifted to prioritizing financial gain instead.

It's widely known that players developed in the academy count as pure profit when it comes to financial fair play rules. There’s a part of me that sneers at this idea, but perhaps it's just the nature of football. They might believe they’ve acquired Ugarte when he’s three or four years younger, thinking he could be a better player.

Saints Make Changes For Away Fans

On Saturday at Southampton, United fans experienced something a bit different – a fresh away section.

Southampton has relocated the area for visiting fans at St Mary's Stadium from the Northam Stand to a different corner. This change offers United supporters a new perspective on the game compared to their past visits to St Mary's.

Although the setting was different, the outcome was all too familiar for United supporters, who haven't witnessed their team suffer a defeat at Southampton in over twenty years.

Traveling fans experienced a completely new perspective during their visit to St. Mary's on Saturday.

Supporters Calculate Euro Expenses

To make matters worse, not only do United fans have to endure two lunchtime games on the South Coast and a Saturday night away match at Crystal Palace to kick off the season, but they will also face higher costs for their European trips compared to supporters of their main rivals, Manchester City and Liverpool.

A recent survey reveals that supporters of United can expect to spend an average of £1,242 on travel and lodging to attend the four away matches in the Europa League group stage, which will be held against FC Porto, Fenerbahce, Viktoria Plzen, and FCSB.

This places them in third place on the list of British football fans traveling across Europe this season, following Aston Villa (£1,633) and Rangers (£1,346), while surpassing Liverpool (£1,188) and City (£1,150).

You can find the complete list compiled by Footy Accumulators here.

Benni Aspires To Be The Boss

It has been three months since Benni McCarthy stepped down from his position as the forwards' coach at United, and the South African is now eager to take on a managerial role of his own.

McCarthy, who has previously managed Cape Town City and Amazulu, is looking for opportunities in Africa and Major League Soccer.

"I believe it's evident that after departing from United, my desire to return as a head coach has really intensified, and that's the direction I want to take next," he stated.

"Going back to Africa to oversee one of the major teams, utilizing the experience I've accumulated, would be an incredible opportunity. My goal would be to help them become a dominant force in African football. Additionally, aiming for a spot in the final of the Club World Cup would be a fantastic achievement."

"I'm also very intrigued by the MLS. I would happily embrace opportunities like that because I believe I have the skills to lead there, develop players, and assist teams in reaching goals they haven't accomplished in recent years."

Benni McCarthy is now looking to take on a coaching position in African football or Major League Soccer following his departure from United in June.

Gabriel Biancheri and Tyler Fletcher were seen at Carrington in T-shirts to support a campaign for World Suicide Prevention Day.

McCarthy has been monitoring what's happening at United and is confident that they can secure a top-four finish this season.

"You can't count Man United out," he stated. "Under Erik ten Hag, they've secured two trophies in just two seasons. If they can carry that success from the cup competitions into the league and achieve consistent wins, they could really make a push—perhaps not for the title just yet, but I believe they can definitely aim for a top-four finish and secure a spot in the Champions League. They certainly have the squad capable of making that happen."

Academy Stars Join Inside Out Team

Last week, the academy's players and staff participated in the Inside Out initiative to commemorate World Suicide Prevention Day.

They donned their clothes inside out to emphasize the significance of addressing various issues by revealing what’s beneath the surface. The main goal of the campaign is to enhance the health and well-being of youth. Academy stars Gabriel Biancheri and Tyler Fletcher were photographed at Carrington wearing T-shirts to demonstrate their support.

Understanding mental health is a fundamental aspect of the club's A United Education program, and certain dates on the calendar are highlighted to reinforce this important message.