Ruben Amorim is happy with his three goalkeepers, insisting he did not drop Andre Onana for Manchester United’s Premier League opener against Arsenal.
Altay Bayindir was named in the starting XI at Old Trafford on Sunday and was at fault after just 13 minutes, failing to deal with Declan Rice’s corner with Riccardo Calafiori converting from close range.
While United turned in a much-improved display with new signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo impressing on their competitive debuts, that early goal was the difference with Arsenal leaving Manchester with all three points.
Onana missed United’s entire pre-season campaign after suffering a hamstring injury just two days after returning to training.
The Cameroon international was fit and available for Sunday’s league opener with Amorim opting to keep faith in Bayindir who featured throughout the pre-season campaign.
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Onana was not named in the matchday squad but Amorim was adamant it was not a case of the player being dropped, more so deciding he was not match fit after his recent layoff.
‘I didn’t drop Onana from the squad. I didn’t drop one of the other two from the squad,’ Amorim told a post-match press conference.
‘It is not putting Andre Onana with just one week, without seeing a game, without time training.’
United have been strongly linked with signing another goalkeeper with Gianluigi Donnaumma, available having been told he has no future at Paris Saint-Germain.
Pushed on whether he is happy with his options in goal with 39-year-old Tom Heaton also in the squad, Amorim insisted he was content with what he has.
‘We prove today that we can win any game in the Premier League especially against team like Arsenal. I’m happy with the players. I’m happy with the three goalkeepers.’
Former United skipper Roy Keane was predictably damning in his assessment if Bayindir’s performance.
‘That’s his area. He has to come with violence, he’s got to be aggressive,’ Keane told Sky Sports.
‘He’s got to say to players, “Yeah, come here, I’m happy to deal with it.” You’ve got to be aggressive; it’s just not strong enough.
‘He’s appealing to the referee. Don’t be appealing to the referee. He’s on his heels; it’s far too easy. It’s schoolboy stuff.’