Andre Onana is set to make his comeback in the Manchester United starting lineup for what could be the most crucial match of their season against Lyon on Thursday night.
The 29-year-old goalkeeper was surprisingly dropped for the Premier League clash with Newcastle United over the weekend, which sparked rumors and doubts surrounding his future at the club.
However, manager Ruben Amorim has decided to bring Onana back for this pivotal fixture, hoping to turn things around for United’s season.
Amorim’s Support for Onana
Amorim has openly expressed his confidence in Onana despite the heavy criticism the goalkeeper has faced recently.
The manager made it clear that Onana will start in Thursday’s game, stating, “We talk about managing players physically, but we also have to manage them mentally. This week, my thinking was to put Onana to play.”
Amorim emphasized the importance of supporting players mentally, especially in high-pressure situations like this one.
This decision comes after a rough performance from Onana in the first leg against Lyon last week, where he made two critical mistakes that led to a 2-2 draw.
Onana had already made headlines before the game with his public comments about Manchester United being far superior to Lyon, which sparked a verbal exchange with former United player Nemanja Matic.
Matic, now playing for Lyon, responded by calling Onana “one of the worst goalkeepers in United’s history,” a statement that only added to the pressure on the goalkeeper.
Despite the tough night in France, Onana will now have a chance to redeem himself in front of the home crowd at Old Trafford.
Bayindir’s Struggles and Onana’s Chance for Redemption
With Onana’s replacement, Altay Bayindir, struggling in Sunday’s 4-1 defeat to Newcastle, Amorim sees this match as a chance for the 29-year-old keeper to show he’s capable of stepping up when it matters most.
The pressure is on, but Onana will be hoping to silence his critics and prove his worth in what could be a season-defining game for Manchester United.
Injury Woes for Amorim
On the injury front, Amorim has received some bad news as he confirmed that Joshua Zirkzee will be sidelined for the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury.
Zirkzee was forced off the field during Sunday’s match at St James’ Park, and the injury is serious enough to rule him out for the remainder of the campaign.
However, there is some good news regarding Amad Diallo.
The Ivorian forward, who has been out since February with an ankle injury, is showing signs of recovery.
While Diallo is not expected to return this month, there is hope that he will rejoin the squad for the final stretch of the season in May, giving Manchester United a potential boost as they approach the closing weeks of the campaign.