Amorim uses Ferguson tactic to defend Man Utd keeper call

When Ruben Amorim was asked a question at Old Trafford on Sunday that caused him to flinch back and raise eyebrows in disbelief 55 seconds into a post-match press conference that lasted less than three and a half minutes.

His goalkeeper was being asked about his selection of veteran former England international Tom Heaton ahead of Altay Bayindir in the Premier League defeat suffered by Arsenal.

“Why”? came the response, and it remained unwavering in the gaze.

When Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge of Manchester United, the exchange that was once commonplace.

In essence, journalists frequently posed questions that Ferguson either thought were genuinely absurd or threatened to expose a weakness. Ferguson argued that a fierce rebuttal and a wagon circle would be required.

Ferguson’s adage, “You are either with us or against us,” was true. The Scot frequently treated journalists’ opinions with scorn, regardless of their validity, because he was aware that almost every journalist was in the “for us” camp.

Amorim spoke with Ferguson just over a week ago when United’s new training facility opened. Is it still possible to debate how to deal with the media.

However, Amorim certainly tried to use this summer to foster a close relationship with his team, which is what led to Sunday’s unfolding.

When a transfer window is about to close, circumstances can quickly change, and it’s well known that Andre Onana’s former club Inter Milan are interested in acquiring a new goalkeeper. However, those at United still believe there won’t be any additions to that group on Monday.

With the funding available to the club this summer, United made the decision to change their attacking positions. The word coming out of Old Trafford was that the Italian goalkeeper would not be heading their way when it became clear that Gianluigi Donnarumma was likely available because he is no longer needed at Paris St Germain. It is not believed that this position has changed.

Amorim is likely to have been persuaded to pick Onana against Arsenal. After all, it couldn’t have been clearer who his first choice was when the 29-year-old was chosen for the Europa League final in May despite making well-known errors prior to the defeat by Tottenham in Bilbao.

However, despite Amorim claiming in his pre-game press conference on Friday afternoon that he was ready to face Mikel Arteta’s side by kick-off, he only had three full training sessions to go before he injured his hamstring early in July.

Amorim believed Bayindir had done well in Onana’s absence during a summer campaign against three different nations where United remained unbeaten and the 27-year-old had played three and a half of the five games.

On this basis, Amorim came to the conclusion that axering Bayindir, who in his eyes had done nothing wrong, and Onana, whose fitness had to be decided on trust, would be the wrong course of action for players to adhere to his “group” philosophy.

After all, if former England goalkeeper Joe Hart could have told BBC Radio 5 Live that despite initially wanting to defend Bayindir and having seen a replay of the goal, he still believed the player had acted unfairly and could have used one hand to force William Saliba out of his way as he punched the ball with the other, Amorim was held accountable.

The former Sporting boss retorted, “He suffered a goal like this where,” with force. He countered that Bayindir had conceded in a similar manner when it was given to him, having previously been unable to deal with a set-piece that had been superbly delivered under his crossbar.

Amorim responded immediately when the game was mentioned, which was an EFL Cup match between Tottenham and Tottenham last December, “Without VAR,” he said. It’s a foul with VAR, they say.

Amorim continued his offensive by mentioning Bayindir’s next appearance, the FA Cup third round match against Arsenal, where his goalkeeper won the man of the match in a shocking penalty shootout victory.

“You can’t recall the game,” you say? Without giving his inquisitor a chance to respond, Amorim said. “I can recall the game. “Altay was unbelievable.”

And Amorim subsequently made the call from yesterday.

Onana was left out of the squad, he continued. Without playing a game or getting trained, after just one week.

Amorim was then asked if he liked his three goalkeepers twice. On the first occasion, he discussed the situation. When he was again questioned, his reply confirmed that he was correct, as if to say, “Are you actually listening to me?”

He left twenty seconds later.

Amorim won’t be able to tell the media until Friday, when he is almost certain to be asked who will play for Fulham on Sunday at Craven Cottage, and he is also likely to decline to say.

The majority of people anticipate that Onana will answer the call.