Manchester United’s Goalkeeper Decision
In a press conference held on Friday, Manchester United’s manager Ruben Amorim announced that Altay Bayindir would be the starting goalkeeper for the upcoming match against Manchester City. This decision comes in the wake of United’s recent signing, Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp on the deadline day, and the departure of last season’s primary goalkeeper, André Onana, who has joined Turkish team Trabzonspor on loan.
Confidence in Bayindir
Amorim expressed confidence in Bayindir, stating,
“Altay is going to continue.”
He emphasized the importance of experience in goalkeeping, especially in a high-stakes match like the derby at the Etihad Stadium. He added,
“It is a different league, different country, different ball. I know that we are in the moment that the goalkeeper needs to be really strong and have a lot of experience.”
Injury Challenges
While Bayindir will take the lead in goal, Amorim faces challenges in team selection due to injuries affecting key players like Matheus Cunha, Mason Mount, and Diogo Dalot. Both Cunha and Mount sustained injuries during the narrow victory against Burnley prior to the international break, while Dalot was released from national duty with a muscle issue.
Amorim commented on the absence of these players,
“They are out for this game. I don’t know how long it’s going to take. We need those guys to be a very, very competitive team.”
He indicated that he is relying on the depth of his squad to maintain performance levels. He remarked on their determination to recover, saying,
“We have very good players that are eager to play, so we will be competitive on Sunday.”
Looking Ahead to the Derby
The situation leaves Amorim with the responsibility of managing injuries on a day-to-day basis, as he looks forward to the derby this weekend.
