Amorim Names Starting Goalkeeper as Manchester United prepare for their critical Europa League second-leg clash against Lyon. Manager Ruben Amorim has confirmed that Andre Onana will return to the starting lineup, despite being benched during the 4-1 Premier League defeat at Newcastle. The Cameroon international was temporarily dropped to allow him time to “disconnect” following a tough week, but Amorim believes he is now mentally and physically ready to return for Friday’s must-win match.
Onana’s Challenging Week and Public Criticism
Onana came under heavy scrutiny after his underwhelming performance in the first leg against Lyon. He allowed a soft free-kick from Thiago Almada to slip past him and later parried the ball into Rayan Cherki’s path for a stoppage-time equaliser. His errors added fuel to harsh criticism, including former United midfielder Nemanja Matic calling him “one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history.” Onana’s own comments about United being “way better” than Lyon only intensified the tension ahead of the match in France.
Amorim’s Thought Process and Support
Amorim explained his decision to rest Onana for the Newcastle game, emphasizing the importance of managing players not just physically, but mentally too. “He had one weekend that I felt it was better for him not to play,” Amorim said. “This week, my thinking was to put Onana to play.” The decision to reinstate the goalkeeper was made after consulting with his staff, including goalkeeping coaches Jorge Vital and Craig Mawson. Amorim believes that if the team as a whole performs better, it will help Onana regain form and confidence.
Confidence in Onana Despite Challenges
The United boss praised Onana’s previous accomplishments with Inter Milan, highlighting his Champions League experience and past trophies. “Andre Onana already proved that he’s a top player,” he said. Amorim also pointed out that underperformance from one player shouldn’t trigger wholesale changes, stating, “That is not the process we need now.”
Maguire Shows Support for Onana
Defender Harry Maguire, who joined Amorim at the press conference, expressed strong confidence in his teammate. Drawing from his own experiences with public scrutiny, Maguire said, “He’s going to be there tomorrow night. He’s a big personality, a big character.” He added that Onana is going through a rough patch, but has the experience and strength to bounce back. “Playing in front of Andre is great. I have confidence in him,” Maguire concluded.
