Ruben Amorim must choose between error-prone Onana and out-of-form Bayindir ahead of Crunch Lyon clash

It was the audition Altay Bayindir had waited nearly a year for—and it ended in disaster. Making his Premier League debut for Manchester United at a raucous St James’ Park, the Turkish goalkeeper shipped four goals and capped off a nervy display with a dreadful late mistake, handing Newcastle a comprehensive 4–0 win and leaving manager Ruben Amorim with a goalkeeping headache at the worst possible time.

Bayindir, signed from Fenerbahçe in 2023 for £4.3 million, was supposed to offer relief from the mounting errors of Andre Onana. Instead, he delivered his own calamitous performance, completing fewer than half of his passes and looking uncertain under pressure. The defining moment came 13 minutes from time. Attempting a lofted pass into midfield, Bayindir handed the ball straight to Joelinton, who fed Bruno Guimarães for Newcastle’s fourth. By then, the result was sealed—but the humiliation was complete.

Amorim, already under intense scrutiny, now faces a defining decision ahead of Thursday’s must-win Europa League quarter-final second leg against Lyon. Does he stick with Bayindir, whose confidence may already be shot, or risk recalling Onana, who has made eight errors leading to goals in all competitions since the start of last season—more than any other Premier League keeper?

Speaking after the defeat, Amorim avoided singling anyone out. “We made a lot of mistakes that made it harder to win a game—that’s all,” he said. “It’s a little bit of everything.” But the omission of Onana from the entire matchday squad was a statement in itself. Whether it was a rest or a disciplinary drop, Amorim now has to decide who shoulders the gloves in what could be United’s last chance at silverware—and Champions League qualification.

Onana’s own position has grown increasingly tenuous. He was largely responsible for both Lyon goals in the first leg, and former United captain Roy Keane suggested Amorim’s patience had run out. “The keeper has made some big mistakes and he’s been punished for it,” said Keane. “It’s a big call for the manager.”

Paul Robinson, former England number one, backed Amorim’s decision to take Onana out of the firing line. “Sometimes you do need a rest,” he said. “It’s good man-management to say: ‘You’re still my number one, but you’re not playing to the levels I want.’”

But Bayindir offered no compelling reason to keep Onana benched. Newcastle converted four of six shots on target and bombarded the Turkish keeper with high balls, many of which he struggled to deal with. His passing accuracy—just 47.4%—stood in sharp contrast to what’s required from a modern goalkeeper under Amorim’s system.

“You don’t take your first-choice keeper out this late in the season without serious thought,” said Robinson. “But I don’t think you throw him back in for a massive match just days later. I don’t expect to see Onana against Lyon.”

Amorim remained tight-lipped when asked about the goalkeeping position post-match. “You have to wait,” he said. “I’m going to choose the best starting XI for the next match.”

But with Onana’s confidence dented and Bayindir’s debut proving a horror show, Amorim may have no choice but to gamble. United’s season—and possibly Amorim’s credibility—could hinge on a single decision between the sticks.