As Ruben Amorim struggles to find a solution for his goalkeeping situation at Manchester United, the Portuguese boss may do well to heed Sir Alex Ferguson's advice
Ruben Amorim, Manager of Manchester United, speaks with Sir Alex Ferguson, former manager of Manchester United prior to the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Old Trafford on January 19, 2025 in Manchester, England
Sir Alex Ferguson has previously met with Ruben Amorim
(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
As Ruben Amorim struggles to find a solution to his goalkeeping woes at Manchester United, he may benefit from hearing Sir Alex Ferguson's advice to Sean Dyche.
While we're now in an age where most sides expect their No. 1 to be able to play out from the back and find strikers with a pinpoint pass, Ferguson, 83, only focused on what his shot-stoppers could do in between their sticks. Altay Bayindir once again struggled in United's 1-1 away draw to Fulham when it came to the Cottagers' corners, just as he had against Arsenal a week prior.
However, he did demonstrate his prowess with his feet when he sent Matheus Cunha through one-on-one with a monstrous through ball, only for the Brazilian's effort to be well saved. As impressive as this was, Ferguson, in a private conversation with Dyche, said the main thing goalkeepers should be concerned about is stopping shots and crosses, rather than using their feet.
Considering Bayindir and Andre Onana have been unconvincing under Amorim, who is eying a move for 23-year-old Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens, the United boss may be best advised to base his next goalkeeping decision on Ferguson's advice.
Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Dyche opened up about a conversation he had with the iconic United boss about his then-Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope, now of Newcastle. He said: "Different managers want different things.
"They were questioning Nick Pope, I couldn’t believe it. They were questioning him about his playing [with his feet], saying, 'Oh yeah, but he can’t do this and he can’t do that.’
"Sir Alex Ferguson always invites you up to his room there. When we (Burnley) played United, Nick Pope was playing terrific. I think we drew the game and he was coming out, taking crosses, terrific.
Andre Onana (L) and Altay Bayindir of Manchester United talk as they make their way out for a training session at Carrington Training Ground on May 14, 2025 in Manchester, England
Onana and Bayindir have both failed to make the United goalkeeper position their own
"He was the monster player that he is, great player for me, great goalkeeper. Sir Alex, he said, 'Oh he’s a big boy and he does this,’ and I said, 'Yeah, they keep going on about his feet.’
"He said, 'Feet? He stops the ball going in the net. People said that about [Edwin] van der Sar. That (ability with his feet) was a bonus. Van der Sar could handle and he could stop the ball going in the net. The rest of it was a bonus.’
"That’s old guard by the way, but call it how it is. I’m not going against modern coaching, trust me, I know all the terminology and that’s fine. But sometimes the simplicity is, his job is to stop the ball going into the net.
Senne Lammens of Royal Antwerp FC during the Jupiler Pro League match between KRC Genk and Royal Antwerp FC at Cegeka Arena on August 3, 2025 in Genk, Belgium
United have been heavily linked with a move for Royal Antwerp shot-stopper Senne Lammens
Content Image
Content Image
"Brian Clough used to say to his centre halves, 'Head it, and kick it, and give it to someone who is better than you - and that’s everyone.’ The basics are still the basics, that was Sir Alex’s point, and Nick Pope stops it going in the goal.”
It's a piece of advice which was not taken up by Amorim's predecessor Erik ten Hag. United invested a huge amount of money in Onana, who had a reputation for being creative and skilled with his feet, to replace shot stopper specialist David de Gea. However, his shot-stopping and handling has often come up short at Old Trafford.
With United reportedly close to agreeing personal terms with Lammens, it appears Bayindir and Onana are not in Amorim's long-term future. Considering the weaknesses both keepers have exhibited, the Portuguese boss may best be advised to ensure Lammens is more than capable of doing the basics, just as Ferguson did with Van der Sar.