Callum O'Connell

Sat 14 October 2023 14:42, UK

Amadou Onana has spoken out saying he is bitter about having let his team down in Belgium’s 3-2 European Championship qualifying victory over Austria after the Everton midfielder was sent off.

Onana received a red card for two bookable offences, and was also the one to give the ball away for Austria’s first goal, although his side were already 3-0 up before either of these errors were made.

The midfielder has spoken of his pride in the team for digging deep and fighting for their eventual victory, which was made significantly harder by his silly mistakes.

Taking to Instagram following the game on 13 October, the Everton midfielder wrote: “Mission completed, Euro 2024 we’re coming.”

“Still feels bitter to have let the team down tonight, but I’m very proud of the way they fought until the last second.”

Self-accountability is always important

For Onana to be able to admit his errors had let the team down, and hold his hands up to that fact, is a clear indication of his character, and a display that he will not shirk responsibility when he is at fault in a game. It’s an important trait to have and speaks volumes of his maturity.

While Everton and Belgium will undoubtedly have been frustrated by his performance, the midfielder is aware he needs to improve and can’t afford to make mistakes like the two in this game on a regular basis.

It will suit Everton to have seen Onana have this lapse in form while on international duty, as the feeling can be he has got the silly errors out of his system and will return to Goodison Park with more of an intense determination to not let his side down again.

Sean Dyche’s man has performed well for the Toffees this season, but there have been calls made recently for him to improve his consistency, and hopefully, this will be a wake-up call.

In other Everton news, a senior chief at Goodison has issued his verdict on the madness around the club.