Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim has defended goalkeeper Altay Bayindir after his error allowed Arsenal snatch a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford on Sunday evening, Softfootball reports.
The Red Devils felt that the Turkish international was impeded by Gunners defender, William Saliba before Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori headed the ball into the net from a Declan Rice corner.
Speaking after the match, Amorim felt the rule was a bit unfair on his side as calls like that should be given to avoid controversies. In the press conference monitored via Manchester United’s official club media.
He said:
“I think you can watch the goal. I think it’s allowed, to do a lot of things, in the corners. We need to do the same. But when you touch that way, the goalkeeper, he needs to use his hand to catch the ball, not to push the players, or he chooses to push players and let the ball pass. But, again, it’s the rules, if it’s allowed, we need to do the same thing.
“I’m saying that you choose to push a player or to get the ball in that moment, so he chooses to get the ball but he’s getting pushed, so he cannot defend it himself. That is my feeling when I see the play but, again, we need to do the same.”
Asked if the experienced Tom Heaton would’ve done better than Altay Bayindir, who conceded a similar goal last season, Amorim replied:
“Why?”
“But, he suffered a goal like this when?”
“Without VAR. Without VAR. With VAR, it’s a foul. And then, what happens in the next game?”
Amorim went on to talk about why regular first choice goalkeeper, Andre Onana wasn’t in the squad for the game.
He said:
“No, no, no, I didn’t drop Onana from the squad, I didn’t drop one of the other two from the squad. So it’s not the case of dropping Onana, it’s not putting Andre Onana with just one week [of training], without seeing a game, without time with training. And like you say, guys, like Tom and Altay during the pre-season, they did a good job.”
“I’m happy with the three goalkeepers.”
Andre Onana may be back next week in goal for Manchester United as they face Fulham in the Match-Day 2 of the premier league.
