Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim faces a pivotal decision ahead of Thursday’s crucial Europa League quarter-final second leg against Lyon, as the club’s goalkeeping crisis deepens following a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Newcastle.
Amorim’s bold move to drop Andre Onana for Sunday’s Premier League clash at St James’ Park backfired spectacularly.
His replacement, Turkish international Altay Bayindir, conceded four goals—capping off a miserable night with a costly error that gifted Newcastle their fourth.
The Cameroon international, Onana, has been under increasing scrutiny after a series of high-profile mistakes this season, including two significant errors in United’s 2-2 first-leg draw in Lyon last week.
However, Amorim’s decision not to include the 29-year-old in the matchday squad at all raised eyebrows and is now being questioned after Bayindir’s faltering display.
Speaking after the defeat, a visibly frustrated Amorim refused to lay blame on any one individual.
“We did a lot of mistakes that made it harder to win a game – that’s all,” the Portuguese manager said. “It’s a little bit of everything, it’s hard to point to one thing.”
However, Bayindir’s loose pass that led directly to Newcastle’s fourth goal was hard to ignore, highlighting the fragility of United’s current goalkeeping options and leaving Amorim with a major selection dilemma.
The timing could hardly be worse. United must now overturn the draw against Lyon to keep their Europa League hopes alive, and Amorim must decide whether to restore Onana—who has made a league-high eight errors leading to goals since the start of last season—or persevere with Bayindir, whose confidence may have been shattered.
Former United captain Roy Keane, speaking on Sky Sports, suggested Amorim’s patience with Onana had run out. “The keeper has made some big mistakes and he’s been punished for it, so it’s a big call for the manager,” Keane said.
Meanwhile, ex-England goalkeeper Paul Robinson offered a more sympathetic view. “There is a time where you do need to take the goalkeeper out of the firing line because the pressure does become too much,” Robinson said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“It’s good man-management to put your arm round him and say, ‘look you’re still my number one goalkeeper, but at the moment you’re not playing to the levels I want you to play at.’”
Onana has had a turbulent debut season at Old Trafford, arriving from Inter Milan with high expectations but struggling to meet them amid a shaky defensive setup. Despite his errors, some argue that he has been left exposed too often and that Amorim’s tactical setup may be partly to blame.
With the season entering a critical phase, Amorim’s next move will speak volumes—not just about his trust in Onana, but about his leadership under pressure. For now, all eyes turn to Thursday night, where the choice between redemption and risk could define Manchester United’s European ambitions.
