Three reasons why Ruben Amorim is right to drop Andre Onana for Manchester United v Newcastle – opinion

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana will not play against Newcastle United after huge errors against Lyon in the Europa League.

In some ways, it was an obvious call – but it will still be headline news. Ruben Amorim has decided to drop first-choice keeper Andre Onana for Manchester United’s trip to Newcastle United, which will be described variously as a no-brainer and a huge gamble by media and fans.

Onana got into a war of words with Nemanja Matic before United travelled to Lyon and needed to back his talk with a big performance. Unfortunately, he was the architect of his and United’s downfall and was at fault for both of Lyon’s goals as United fell to a last-minute draw.

A number one being left out is always the team news headline, but there are several reasons Ruben Amorim has made the right call.

Anger at Onana after Lyon errors

Dropping the keeper is, first and foremost, a reaction to his actions before and during United’s Europa League quarter-final draw with Lyon.

Onana piled pressure on both himself and United by claiming they were “way better” than Lyon (though that soundbite was pulled from a larger and more balanced quote), and then when ex-United and current Lyon player Nemanja Matic called him one of United’s worst goalkeepers in modern history, Onana sniped back at his lack of trophies with the club.

That exchange earned him a frosty reception from the Lyon fans, and he needed a strong performance to back up his words. However, he let in a direct free-kick from Thiago Lamada to put the hosts in front. His teammates battled back, and goals from Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkee saw them set to take a lead back to Old Trafford.

Then, deep into stoppage time, the keeper spilt Georges Mikautadze’s effort straight into the path of a grateful Rayan Cherki, who equalised. It was Onana’s eighth error leading to a goal in all competitions since the beginning of last season, the most of any Premier League keeper, and undid what was otherwise a good performance from his team.

Goalkeepers can usually afford more errors than most before they cede their starting place. But the nature of Onana’s poor performance, so soon after his words had piled unnecessary pressure on what was already United’s biggest game of the season, frustrated fans. Many want to see some consequences for what could be very costly errors.

However, this is not just a move to pacify angry supporters.

A break could benefit Onana

Because goalkeepers are usually such fixtures in the team, even often through less-than-perfect form, dropping one can have huge fallout. Sir Alex Ferguson famously replaced first-choice keeper Jim Leighton with Les Sealey for United’s FA Cup final replay in 1990 and their relationship – and, some say, Leighton’s confidence – never recovered.

However, there’s a chance Onana could be glad of a break. He unwisely thrust himself into the spotlight this week, and it has not been kind to him. United legend Paul Scholes criticised Onana heavily, as have plenty of supporters.

The scrutiny comes at a difficult time for the Cameroonian, whose wife was robbed in March. If that ordeal off the pitch is also weighing on Onana’s mind, Amorim’s decision to rest the keeper seems even more prudent.

Altay Bayindir has earned a chance in the Premier League

It’s a big day for Ruben Amorim and Andre Onana – but an even bigger one now for Altay Bayindir, Manchester United’s backup goalkeeper, who will make his Premier League debut.

Both keepers arrived in 2023, but Onana has started all 69 Premier League games since then with Bayindir only having seven appearances in cup competitions. Those have been very mixed. In United’s 4-3 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, neither Bayindir nor Spurs keeper Fraser Forster covered themselves in glory- a catalogue of errors from the two keepers resulted in a scoreline that flattered both sides’ attackers.

On the other hand, Bayindir impressed mightily in United’s FA Cup triumph over Arsenal. He saved a second-half penalty to keep ten-man United in the tie and made several more excellent saves to take it to extra time, before eventually saving Kai Havertz’ penalty in the shootout to seal the team’s progress.

Inconsistent? Perhaps. But if that’s the greatest allegation against him, it’s hardly a damning one considering the mistakes Onana is capable of. Bayindir’s stats are obviously taken from a far smaller sample of games, but the pair’s numbers this season show that he deserves a chance to compete with Onana.

Today is surely an audition for Bayindir, and his chance to lay claim to a starting berth for the second leg against Lyon. Bayindir has been pursued by other Premier League clubs in the past, and this is his chance to demonstrate the top-flight credentials that might have been overlooked at United.

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