Manchester United head coach says he is “happy” with his three goalkeeping options
Ruben Amorim has defended Altay Bayindir after the goalkeeper’s error contributed to Manchester United’s opening-day defeat against Arsenal.
The United manager added that he has no plans to bring in another goalkeeper before the transfer window closes.
Bayindir was preferred to Andre Onana for Sunday’s 1-0 loss at Old Trafford, with the Cameroon international only recently returning to full training after a hamstring injury kept him out of preseason. But the Turkey international was at fault for the decisive moment, misjudging a corner that allowed Riccardo Calafiori to score the game’s only goal.
Amorim told reporters after the match that he was “happy” with his three goalkeeping options, namely Bayindir, Onana and Tom Heaton. He also waved off suggestions of a foul on Bayindir, saying that the error was a matter of decision-making.
“You choose to push a player [out of the way] or to get the ball in that moment,” said Amorim. “He needs to use his hands to catch the ball, not push players. He chooses to push players and lets the ball pass.”
Onana’s absence from the squad was particularly notable after Amorim had confirmed in his pre-match press conference that the 29-year-old was available.
However, United’s manager clarified that the Cameroonian did not feature simply because he was not up to speed in terms of fitness and tactics.
“I didn’t drop Onana from the squad,” said Amorim. “It’s not the case of dropping Onana. It’s not putting Andre Onana in just one week without seeing the game, without time, with training.
