Ruben Amorim drew on a Sir Alex Ferguson-style rebuttal to defend his decision to start Altay Bayindir over Tom Heaton in Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.
The Portuguese manager reacted sharply when asked if he had considered selecting Heaton, replying with a firm “Why?”—echoing Ferguson’s famous approach of circling the wagons against perceived hostile media questions.
Amorim explained that Bayindir, who impressed during United’s unbeaten summer tour, had earned his place, while Andre Onana was not fully fit after a hamstring injury.
Dropping Bayindir, he argued, would undermine the squad unity he has worked to build.
Critics, including former England goalkeeper Joe Hart, suggested Bayindir should have dealt better with Arsenal’s winner.
Amorim strongly disagreed, referencing past performances where Bayindir excelled, including a man-of-the-match display against Arsenal in last season’s FA Cup.
Although Onana is expected to return against Fulham on Sunday, Amorim is unlikely to reveal his choice before matchday.
His fiery response on Sunday underlined a broader strategy: shielding his players and reinforcing trust within the squad.
