Manchester United manager explains Andre Onana’s exclusion

Onana: Photo Credit: Manchester United.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has explained the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana from Sunday’s Premier League game against Aston Villa.

Second-choice goalkeeper Altay Bayindir featured between the sticks as United used home ground advantage to collect maximum points and finish the season in 15th place.

Amorim insisted there was no issue with the Cameroonian, saying he simply wanted to give the Turkish second-choice keeper game time.

“Onana was just for Altay to have this experience, and sometimes the goalkeepers nowadays, they need space to play, also to feel important, because we need two/three goalkeepers ready to play, especially when you have a lot of competition," he told United media.

The Indomitable Lions’ number one had a turbulent season after conceding questionable goals. However, Bayindir has not been any better for the Red Devils, who have finished the campaign empty-handed.

Onana kept nine clean sheets in 34 games, seventh on the list of the keepers who did not concede the most this season, according to Transfermarket’s statistics.

The statistics further show that David Raya of Arsenal and Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels kept the most 13 clean sheets apiece. Ivorian Amad Diallo and Dane Christian Eriksen, who is leaving the club, scored for United in the 76th and 87th minutes respectively.