Ruben Amorim confirms that Altay Bayindir will start over Senne Lammens for Manchester United against Manchester City
Manchester United signed Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp on transfer deadline day in a deal worth £18.1m. The deal could prove to be a milestone for the club. ESPN reported that Lammens made more saves than any goalkeeper in Europe’s top 10 leagues last season, and his goals-prevented numbers looked extremely impressive. United’s scouts decided to sign him after recognising his ball distribution skills and potential to develop further.
Meanwhile, the club sent Andre Onana on a season-long loan to Trabzonspor, creating a new situation in the goalkeeper position. Amorim now has options like Lammens, Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton. Against this backdrop, Manchester United’s failure to sign Malick Fofana raised many questions about the club’s transfer strategy.
Amorim’s big decision ahead of the Manchester Derby:
The biggest question before the Manchester derby concerned who would start in goal. In the press conference, Ruben Amorim made it clear that Altay Bayindir will be included in the starting eleven in this match. This decision matters because Onana has already left for Trabzonspor, and Lammens is still adapting to his new environment.
Ruben Amorim confirms that Altay Bayindir will start over Senne Lammens for Manchester United against Manchester City.
Altay Bayindir will start the Manchester derby over Senne Lammens
Amorim admitted that the 23-year-old Belgian has future potential, but it would be too early to give him a chance against a big opponent like Manchester City. The manager expressed confidence in Bayindir and said that experience and strength are the most important elements in such matches. Meanwhile, reports suggest that Manchester United are eyeing Ruben Neves, indicating Amorim’s intent to strengthen the midfield further.
“Altay is going to continue. It is a different league, a different country, a different ball. I know that we are in a moment where the goalkeeper needs to be really strong and have a lot of experience.
“We are also in the moment where we have to look at the present, but also with a focus on the future. [Lammens] is a guy with great potential, who is one more option to play. We believe a lot in our goalkeepers. I believe in Altay. He’s ready to play.”
Quote via: ESPN
Thoughts about this decision:
Amorim’s decision to include Bayindir in the starting eleven has stirred the fanbase. Many supporters believe that Lammens should have been given the chance, as his shot-stopping skills make him stand out. On the other hand, the transition from Royal Antwerp to the Manchester derby would have been extremely difficult for any young goalkeeper.
Throwing 23-year-old Lammens, who only became a regular starter last season, straight into a match against City could have hurt his confidence. Amorim probably chose the Turkish international to avoid this risk, so that Lammens can slowly prove himself in a new country, a new league and among new teammates.
Bayindir’s performances this season have not been fully convincing so far. Against Arsenal, he was easily pushed aside at corners and struggled to deal with crosses. Manchester City will surely look to exploit this weakness. So the derby is a real test for him. If he performs well, Amorim’s faith will be justified, but if the 27-year-old falters, the criticism will intensify. Amorim clearly stated that Lammens has great potential for the future, but he needs to build a strong foundation now. This clearly shows that Amorim has prioritised stability and plans to gradually give a new direction to United’s goalkeeping.