Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has a crunch decision to make over hapless goalkeeper Andre Onana ahead of their trip to Newcastle United on Sunday. The two sides meet in a televised Premier League clash on Sunday.
Onana produced a shocking display in Man Utd's 2-2 draw against Lyon on Thursday night. The under-fire goalkeeper’s mistakes cost them a Europa League quarter-final win in France in the first leg of the tie.
The spotlight was on a player described as “one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United’s history” ahead of Thursday’s game by Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic, who hit back after Onana said the Red Devils were “way better” than the French side.
The United shot-stopper received an intimidating reception at a rocking Groupama Stadium, where his error midway through the first half resulted in Thiago Almada’s free-kick finding the net. The visitors turned things around through Leny Yoro’s first goal for the club and substitute Joshua Zirkzee’s late header, only for Onana to be beaten by Rayan Cherki after spilling Georges Mikautadze’s stoppage-time strike as the match ended 2-2.
Onana was subjected to online mockery and pundit criticism after his performance. The 28-year-old looked crestfallen at the end of the game and Amorim has a huge decision on his hands as to whether he plays him on Sunday in front of what is sure to be another hostile atmosphere at St James' Park.
However, the Portuguese manager looks set to keep faith in his No 1 shot-stopper judging my his post-match comments. The Old Trafford boss has the option of bringing in back-up Altay Bayinder but Onana looks set to get the nod with Amorim talking about 'putting the player in again' and having 'confidence' in the player.
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SkyAsked if the comments from former Red Devils player Matic – who was an unused substitute on Thursday – caused Onana to be a little distracted on a night of hostility, United’s head coach said: “I don’t know, that can happen.
“The best thing is to look at the goals and all the actions that Andre has had in the game, to talk with (goalkeeping coaches, Jorge) Vital and Craig (Mawson). This is the best way to help any player.
“It is to focus on the game, what happened, what we need to improve and then put the player (in) again.”
Pushed on what he will say to the United goalkeeper, Amorim said: “Nothing. We have training, go with Vital and we deal with that. I am really natural.
“That can happen with any player. We will try to help. There’s nothing I can say to Andre in this moment that would help him.
“So, the most important thing is to be natural and then, when the time comes, I will choose the best XI to play. But I’m really confident in Andre. It can happen. If you play football and you play a lot of games, you can make mistakes.
“If you look at the season, I make more mistakes than them during these last games and during these last months, so that can happen. The good thing is that we have one more game to change everything, so that should be our focus.”
Newcastle, meanwhile, have a couple of selection dilemmas of their own but Anthony Gordon could return for the game after sitting out the last four games through suspension and injury. The player is hoping to be fit after a hip problem suffered on international duty.
Joe Willock, however, is out with concussion. Lewis Hall, Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles - who it was revealed this week has a year extension on his contract - remain on the sidelines.
