Ruben Amorim has confirmed he will make changes to his Manchester United line-up when they take on Lyon in the Europa League quarter-final second leg.
It feels like Manchester United’s 2024/25 season hangs by a thread with Ruben Amorim’s every decision questioned by the press.
The United head coach had one eye on the second leg against Lyon when the team fell to a 4-1 defeat away at Newcastle on Sunday. Sadly, for United, the Premier League campaign is over and the focus has shifted to the Europa League.
United drew 2-2 against Lyon in the first leg of the quarter-final tie when the headlines were dominated by Andre Onana before and after the match. He talked the talk pre-match but couldn’t walk the walk when it all kicked off as he committed two avoidable howlers that led to goals.
Amorim will be demanding more from his goalkeeper in the second leg.
Andre Onana will start vs Lyon
Amorim left Onana out of the United squad which lost 4-1 at Newcastle, which the head coach suggesting that he needed time to disconnect. Questions were asked ahead of United’s second-leg with Lyon whether Amorim would stick by Altay Bayindir or go back to Onana.
The Newcastle defeat was the first league game Onana had missed since his move to Old Trafford from Inter Milan nearly two years ago.
However, Bayindir is set to return to the bench after making his first Premier League appearance for United.
Amorim confirmed Onana will return to the United team for Thursday night’s Europa League tie with Lyon during Wednesday’s press conference.
“[Andre] Onana will play tomorrow,” Amorim told reporters.
Onana went on to dominate the press conference and has had to deal with a lot of criticism for mistakes made over the past two seasons.
“I think as a former coach and a player, I try to do things that can help a player in this situation,” he added.
“We talk about managing players physically, but we also have to manage them mentally.
“This week, my thinking was to put [Andre] Onana to play.”
Amorim asked whether Man Utd need a new goalkeeper
Jamie Jackson of The Guardian quizzed Amorim on whether he needs to sign a new goalkeeper to replace Onana in the summer.
United’s head coach didn’t want to give anything away, but stressed that United need to improve in every position.
Amorim told reporters: “We need to improve every position on the field; goalkeeper is the same. If our team scores more goals and our strikers are better, we will defend better.
“Sometimes you have a season where you are underperforming.
“We are going to make that evaluation for any position in the squad.”
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