Ruben Amorim: 'Being a Manchester United goalkeeper right now is really tough!'

Ruben Amorim has publicly supported Manchester United’s goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, even though he made a critical error during the intense 3-2 win against Burnley.

In the recent match, Bayindir allowed the ball to rebound right in front of Jaidon Anthony, enabling Burnley to equalize at 2-2. Fortunately for Man Utd, Bruno Fernandes and his teammates rallied in time to score the decisive goal in the final minutes to secure the win.

However, Bayindir’s performance has once again been heavily questioned. Earlier, in the Premier League opener against Arsenal, the goalkeeper also made a direct mistake that led to a goal, contributing to the Red Devils’ defeat. So far this season, Bayindir has been at fault for two goals conceded in three domestic league matches.

Not only Bayindir, but Andre Onana, who was expected to be a reliable last line of defense, has also faced harsh criticism. The Cameroonian goalkeeper made two major mistakes in the shocking loss to Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup, resulting in a humiliating elimination for Man Utd.

Coach Ruben Amorim immediately spoke out to defend his players after the match. He emphasized that the pressure at Man Utd is enormous and it is unfair to blame just one individual: “They are only human. At Man Utd, everything is scrutinized intensely. Everyone talks about the goalkeeper. But as you can see, I can change the goalkeeper, yet mistakes like these keep happening."

“I believe being a Manchester United goalkeeper right now is truly challenging. Looking at the first goal conceded, the whole team could have defended better. We had a similar goal against Fulham before, when the team failed to rotate quickly enough as the ball moved to the opposite wing. These small details have nothing to do with the goalkeeper.”

Amorim also admitted the entire squad is under heavy psychological pressure: “The players are struggling with all the pressure surrounding the club. That’s normal. So, not only the goalkeeper, but the whole team needs to improve.”

Amid the crisis in the goalkeeper position, Man Utd’s management has targeted young keeper Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp. However, the Red Devils have only 48 hours left to complete the deal before the summer transfer window closes. Notably, Galatasaray is also fiercely competing to sign the 23-year-old Belgian goalkeeper.

The victory over Burnley temporarily relieves pressure for Man Utd, but defensive issues, especially in the goalkeeper role, remain a major headache for Coach Ruben Amorim. Without swift improvement, the Red Devils could face significant challenges in pursuing their 2025/26 season goals.