‘An even fight’: Amorim issues damning verdict over Utd man’s starting spot amid ‘unacceptable’ form

Stretty News

·25 gennaio 2025

‘An even fight’: Amorim issues damning verdict over Utd man’s starting spot amid ‘unacceptable’ form

After years of players getting away with shoddy showings and the bare minimum each week, fans will back Ruben Amorim being as ruthless as he desires with his team changes.

That appeared to be the case on Thursday evening when Manchester United hosted Rangers in a Europa League contest at Old Trafford.

OneFootball Video

Altay Bayindir was recalled to the starting XI for the first-ever time in the UEL, replacing firm No.1 Andre Onana after his truly dismal showing in the defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion four days prior.

In the game, Onana dove off of his line in an attempt to claim a low cross into the area. He got a hand to the ball before palming it straight into the path of the pouncing Georginio Rutter, who was able to brush off Matthijs de Ligt and convert his effort into an open net.

Such a blunder is, unfortunately, not uncommon for the Cameroonian, as he’s already garnered quite the catalogue of costly mistakes since his £47 million move from Inter Milan in July 2023.

It’s an ‘even’ battle for the starting ‘keeper spot, says Amorim

Bayindir will be looking to displace his counterpart Onana if he stays at United long-term. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)

Heading into the window, it was mostly expected that Bayindir would depart Manchester in hopes of sealing increased game time elsewhere, having featured only twice in the one-and-a-bit seasons he played under Erik ten Hag.

Yet, a move is now nigh impossible to take place following his resurgence in the first-team. Prior to Thursday, Amorim had utilised the Turkish international in fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, the latter of which saw him save two penalties to aid United’s progression in the FA Cup.

When he was then restored between the sticks for the Reds’ last outing, fans began questioning whether Onana’s starting spot was now under threat amid his struggling form, which Louis Saha deemed ‘unacceptable’ in the aftermath of the Seagulls affair.

Amorim told reporters in his pre-Fulham press conference that the rotation was already planned – but did suggest Onana’s No.1 role was not guaranteed if he continues committing such howlers.

“It is always an even fight, but this was rotation – it was prepared,” the manager said, via the club website. “I also think about the mistake, and the idea I think about is the message I send to you guys and the fans. The rotation was done, and everything was prepared, and we will deal with that normally.

“We have two really good goalkeepers, and they need time to play, the space in the team. So this rotation was prepared, but that mistakes was my concern, and, in the end, we continue with the same plan that we did last week.”