Amorim Defends Goalkeeper Decision After Arsenal Defeat
Ruben Amorim found himself taken aback during a post-match press conference at Old Trafford on Sunday, just 55 seconds into a session that lasted less than three and a half minutes.
The question posed was about his goalkeeper selection, specifically whether he had considered starting veteran former England international Tom Heaton instead of Altay Bayindir in the Premier League match against Arsenal.
“Why?” was Amorim’s immediate response, accompanied by a piercing stare.
This exchange evoked memories of the confrontational press interactions that characterized Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson. Ferguson frequently dismissed questions he deemed absurd or threatening to his team's image, adhering to a philosophy of “you are either with us or against us.” He often regarded journalists as adversaries, tending to disregard their opinions regardless of their merit.
Amorim had spoken with Ferguson just over a week ago at the opening of United's newly renovated training ground, though it remains uncertain whether media strategy was part of their discussion.
This summer, Amorim has focused on fostering a strong connection with his squad, a factor that influenced his decision-making leading up to Sunday’s match.
As the transfer window nears its end, speculation surrounds Andre Onana's potential departure to Inter Milan, yet United officials indicated on Monday that no new goalkeeper would be joining the squad.
Instead, the club opted to strengthen their attacking lineup with the available funds this summer. Despite Gianluigi Donnarumma's availability following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain, United's stance has remained unchanged: he will not be joining the team.
Amorim’s decision to field Onana against Arsenal was significant, particularly given Onana's selection for the Europa League final in May, despite previous mistakes that had contributed to a loss against Tottenham in Bilbao.
Although Amorim confirmed in a pre-match press conference that the Cameroon international was fit to play, Onana had only completed three full training sessions since recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in early July.
In Onana's absence, Amorim believed Bayindir had performed admirably during the summer campaign, where United remained unbeaten in three countries, with Bayindir participating in three and a half of the five matches.
Amorim felt it would undermine his 'group' philosophy to drop Bayindir, who he believed had done nothing to warrant being benched for Onana, whose fitness was still uncertain.
His assertiveness in addressing questions about his goalkeeper's performance seemed part of a broader strategy. Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart remarked on BBC Radio Five Live that after reviewing a replay of a goal Bayindir conceded, he believed the goalkeeper made a mistake and could have used one hand to clear the ball. Amorim was quick to defend his player, stating, “He suffered a goal like this where?” when reminded of a previous incident involving Bayindir.
When the game in question—a December EFL Cup tie against Tottenham where Son Heung-min scored directly from a corner—was mentioned, Amorim responded, “Without VAR. With VAR, it is a foul.”
Amorim continued to highlight Bayindir's contributions, recalling his standout performance in the FA Cup third-round match against Arsenal, where Bayindir was awarded man of the match following a surprise penalty shootout victory.
“You don’t remember the game?” Amorim challenged, not allowing his questioner a chance to respond. “I remember the game. Altay was unbelievable.”
Amorim made his decision based on this context, clarifying, “I didn’t drop Onana from the squad. After just one week, without seeing a game, without training...”
When asked twice if he was satisfied with his three goalkeepers, Amorim initially sidestepped the question. Upon a second inquiry, he affirmed his satisfaction but accompanied it with a shake of his head, as if questioning whether the reporter was truly listening.
After twenty seconds, he concluded the press conference.
Amorim is not scheduled to speak to the media again until Friday, when it is likely he will face questions about the starting goalkeeper for the upcoming match against Fulham at Craven Cottage. Most expect Onana to be the choice, but history indicates that such selections carry inherent risks. Amorim will hope to avoid defending his decisions in the aftermath of that game.