Ruben Amorim gave an intense defence of Altay Bayindir after the goalkeeper's error gave Arsenal victory over Manchester United on Sunday.
Bayindir blunder hands Arsenal winAmorim asked about Tom HeatonManager looked stunned by questionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Amorim took exception to a reporter's question as he stared back at the journalist in disbelief. Bayindir's mishap proved costly as a spirited United were defeated 1-0 by Arsenal on Sunday, and the error provoked a question involving former Burnley stopper Heaton, whose last competitive first-team minutes came during the Red Devils' successful Carabao Cup campaign in 2022-23.
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Bayindir flapped horribly at a 13th-minute corner, only getting a couple of fingertips on the ball as it sailed through for Riccardo Calafiori to nod in from close range. It proved to be the defining moment of the game as the Red Devils huffed and puffed but found no equaliser to ensure their Premier League campaign started in defeat.
WHAT AMORIM SAID
Asked whether he considered playing Heaton after Bayindir conceded from a corner like he did in a Carabao Cup defeat to Tottenham last season, Amorim replied: “Why? Without VAR [in the competition]. With VAR, it’s a foul. And then what happened in the next game? Arsenal. Who saved the penalty? Who saved the game?”
The 40-year-old added: “If you watch the ball, [the opponent] is allowed to do a lot of things at the corners. We need to do the same. But when you touch that way [block], the goalkeeper needs to [be able to] use his hands to catch the ball, not push players [out of the way]. He chooses to push players and let the ball pass. But again, it’s the rules. If it’s allowed, we need to do the same thing.”
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Bayindir was included in the starting XI ahead of Andre Onana, who has been recovering from a hamstring injury over the summer and wasn't included in Sunday's squad. However, Amorim did not give his backing to the former Inter goalie when asked about his omission, saying it was for the sake of "balance".