Ruben Amorim has defended his decision to start Altay Bayindir in goal against Fulham, despite Andre Onana being available on the bench. The Manchester United manager persisted with the Turkish goalkeeper even after his costly error led to last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal.
Bayindir failed to deal properly with an Arsenal corner, allowing Riccardo Calafiori to score the winning goal. Yet Amorim has made just one change to his starting lineup, replacing Diogo Dalot with Amad at wing-back.
Manager explains selection logic
Amorim told Sky Sports: "It's the same kind of decision a manager has to do. I try to see the game, I try to imagine the next game. I try to put the best players to win the game. So I did that."
The Portuguese coach emphasised his tactical approach requires specific player attributes for different matches. He added: "We try to imagine what is going to happen during the game. Our game needs to be consistent, the way we control the game."
Onana's return from injury
Onana missed the Arsenal match entirely after recovering from a hamstring injury that limited his pre-season preparation. The former Ajax goalkeeper trained only three times before the season opener, contributing to his initial omission from the squad.
The Cameroonian international has made 101 appearances since his £47m transfer to United in 2023. His return to the bench suggests he has regained full fitness, yet Amorim continues to favour Bayindir for the starting position.
Transfer speculation clouds future
Manchester United are pursuing Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp in a deal worth approximately £17m. The 23-year-old Belgian goalkeeper was omitted from Antwerp's league fixture against Mechelen on Sunday, fuelling speculation about his imminent departure.
Only the Daily Mail reports that Lammens was present in the stands for Antwerp's match, indicating advanced transfer negotiations. The potential signing raises questions about the long-term futures of both Bayindir and Onana at Old Trafford.
Sources used: "Manchester Evening News", "Independent", "Daily Mail", "Evening Standard"
Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.