Ruben Amorim has named his starting goalkeeper for the Manchester Derby and one pundit has told the United manager he will regret the decision on Sunday
Ruben Amorim has been warned he’ll rue his decision to field Altay Bayindir in Sunday’s Manchester Derby, with critics claiming Manchester City will ruthlessly target his glaring weakness.
Amorim confirmed on Friday that Bayindir would get the nod ahead of new signing Senne Lammens between the sticks. The Manchester United boss faced a choice between the Turkish keeper and the £18.2million newcomer following Andre Onana’s loan departure to Trabzonspor.
He hinted that the call was made more due to Lammens not being match-ready, rather than showing complete confidence in Bayindir. Lammens has only featured in Belgian football previously, whilst Bayindir has been between the posts for all three of United’s Prem fixtures this campaign.
Bayindir was culpable for Riccardo Calafiori’s strike in Arsenal’s 1-0 triumph over United on the season’s opening weekend. He made a hash of Declan Rice’s corner delivery, and former Scotland international Craig Burley believes his frailty when dealing with crosses will be exploited by City.
“With Bayindir, every set-piece I’m putting Haaland and every centre half on him and just swinging it under the crossbar for fun,” Burley told ESPN, reports the Mirror.
“Hell, if Man City have got someone who takes long throws, I’m throwing it in Rory Delap style. I’m just piling it into the box because he’s absolutely hopeless at coming out and dealing with aerial balls – he’s shown that.”
Amorim has selected Bayindir as his first-choice goalkeeper this season, with Onana entering pre-season injured following a challenging 2024/25 campaign.
Despite not fully convincing in goal, and despite some speculating that the last-minute signing of Lammens would see him take over as No.1, Amorim has made his decision clear.
“Altay is going to continue,” he declared. “It is a different league, different country, different ball [for Lammens]. So they [he and Bayindir] will fight for the position. We are really pleased – he is a goalkeeper with a lot of potential.
“We are in the moment that the goalkeeper needs to be really strong and have a lot of experience but we also have to look at the present with a focus on the future so it is a bit of both. He will be ready.”
United secured their first victory of the season before the international break, defeating newly-promoted Burnley 3-2.
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