Ruben Amorim weighs in after Rio Ferdinand tells struggling Man Utd star to 'liven up'

Ruben Amorim has jumped to the defence of Altay Bayindir after Rio Ferdinand was among those to criticise the Manchester United goalkeeper.

Bayindir has started both of United’s Premier League matches this season, with Andre Onana on the bench at Craven Cottage on Sunday. Having struggled on set pieces in the 1-0 defeat against Arsenal, similar problems occurred in the 1-1 draw with Fulham.

The Turkey international appeared uncomfortable when defending corners, with Fulham appearing to target the weakness he showed in conceding to Riccardo Calafiori the week before. And while United weren’t punished on set pieces this time, Ferdinand and Gary Neville were among those to highlight Bayindir’s struggles.

But speaking ahead of United’s Carabao Cup match against Grimsby on Wednesday, Amorim rejected the focus on Bayindir. “I know you are focused a lot on the opponents’ corners but if you remember this game, we had our chances and scored a goal from a set piece,” he said.

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“We had a penalty. We had at least one in the end near the post. Tell me one game in the Premier League that you didn’t see a big occasion from a corner? That will happen in every game.”

His words come amid yet another debate over the goalkeeping position at United. Onana was the first choice last season, but sat on the bench on Sunday watching Bayindir, having recovered from an injury over the summer.

United are in talks with Royal Antwerp over the signing of goalkeeper Senne Lammens, which suggests Amorim is unhappy with his current crop, which also includes 39-year-old Tom Heaton. Former United defender Ferdinand has urged Amorim to put on some specific training sessions to help Bayindir adapt.

“We look shaky. The goalkeeper doesn’t fill me with massive confidence,” he said on his . “He needs to liven up. I know that, definitely. I’ll tell you what I’d do, I’d be getting him out on the pitch every day and smashing balls under the crossbar.

“He’s got to get used to it, he’s got to get used to contact and work out a way. Make sure the referee is aware by the way that there’s going to be contact. Shout, get him aware to look at you so if there’s any contact, like in the Fulham game, that you get the free-kick.

“I don’t think he talks enough, he doesn’t make people aware of what’s going on and then his decision-making in those moments hasn’t been good enough.”

Neville also questioned Bayindir, saying on Sky Sports : “It is not a good look for Bayindir this – United need to sort this as it is not going to go away. He is 27 years old, which is not young for a goalkeeper, and it puts pressure on your defence when your keeper is flapping like that.”

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