Ruben Amorim has come in defense of Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana following the under-fire goalkeeper’s mistakes in the Red Devils Europa League quarter-final clash at Lyon.
Onana was in the spotlight ahead of the match after he was described as “one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United’s history” by Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic.
Matic who was once on the book of Man United called out Onana after the goalkeeper said the Red Devils were “way better” than the French side.
Onana 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.
United 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.
Rayan Cherki scores Olympique Lyon’s second goal past Andre Onana. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Speaking after the match, Amorim backed his goalkeeper. “It can happen,” Amorim said. “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.”
Asked 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.”
