Ruben Amorim jumped to the defense of Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir after Sunday's defeat to Arsenal and suggested Riccardo Calafiori's winner should not have stood.
Man Utd beaten 1-0 by Arsenal at Old TraffordBayindir blunder gifts Gunners winAmorim defends goalkeeper afterwardsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Amorim picked Bayindir ahead of Andre Onana for his team's opening Premier League match of the season against Arsenal but saw the goalkeeper gift the visitors the only goal of the game. The stopper allowed himself to be bullied too easily by William Saliba, giving Calafiori the simple task of nodding home.
AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Bayindir's performance continues Manchester United's struggles in goal in recent seasons. Onana has also been guilty of errors, and there has been speculation the Red Devils could look to bring in a new No. 1 this summer. Amorim was quizzed on the situation after the defeat at Old Trafford but defended Bayindir and hinted that goal should have been chalked off.
WHAT AMORIM SAID
Amorim was asked after the game if he was now thinking about replacing Bayindir with Tom Heaton and snapped back: "Why? But [Altay] suffered a goal like this, where?" The Manchester United boss was then told: "Spurs."
Amorim added: "Without VAR. With VAR, is a foul. Then what happened in the next game? Arsenal. Altay was unbelievable. I consider everything to put one or the other.
"When you touch in that way the goalkeeper he needs to use his hands to catch the ball, not push players. Or if he choose, push players and let ball past. If it’s allowed we need to do the same. He choose to get the ball, so he cannot defend himself."
Pressed on Onana's absence from the squad, Amorim replied: "I didn't drop Onana from the squad. It is not putting Andre Onana with just one week, without seeing a game, without time training. I am happy with the three goalkeepers."
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?
Manchester United's next match is against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday in the Premier League. All eyes will be on Amorim's teamsheet for the match to see if Bayindir keeps his place or is replaced by Onana or Heaton.
