Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim has revealed that Andre Onana deserves to return to the team for the second leg of the Europa League quarter-final clash against Lyon on Thursday.
The former Inter Milan goalkeeper was left out of the team for the 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United on Sunday after his calamitous performance in the first leg against Lyon, where he was at fault for their two goals.
He was replaced in the starting lineup by second choice goalkeeper, Altay Bayindir, who also failed to impress in his first Premier League start – he was at fault for Newcastle United’s fourth goal.
Onana has conceded 56 goals in all competitions for Manchester United this season, coupled with a series of error-prone performances.
However, Amorim has confirmed that the Cameroon goalkeeper will return to the line-up against Lyon.
He said: “As a coach and former player first of all I try to do things that can help a player in this situation.
“We speak about managing players physically but we also have to manage them also mentally.
“We had one weekend where I felt it was better for Andre Onana not to play and a good thing for Altay [Bayindir] to play. He (Onana) will play on Thursday.”
The former Sporting Lisbon manager said that Onana deserves to return to his position as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Amorim said: “When I made that decision I talked with Andre and that is important for me to explain to the player to understand what I am thinking.
“Sometimes the player is saying one thing and I understand it’s a different thing, sometimes it is my feeling as a coach that can make my decision more than what they are saying to me. They want to show they are really confident and I can feel the other way. So I have a conversation but it is my decision in the end.”
Amorim is unfazed by the criticisms that will follow his decision to start Onana against Lyon.
He said: “Yeah, that is not just the dilemma but the big factor on being a coach,” he said “Everything you do has two ways. He’s going to be really good tomorrow, I’m sure of that, but if he’s the other way, people will say that it was a bad decision.
“We never know. I’m trying to be clear on things, try to make the evaluation, be really simple, not over-thinking, and when I imagine the game, and I see Andre Onana, he had one week and he rested, now he’s ready to return to competition and I chose Andre to start this game.“
Amorim also confirmed that Joshua Zirkzee has been ruled out of action for the rest of the season following a hamstring injury against Newcastle United.
He said: “Joshua is out for the season,” said the boss. “So he’s not going to play more this season. Let’s prepare him for the next one.
”It’s tough, especially at this moment. I think he’s improving in all aspects of the game, so it’s hard for any player to stop, but this is football and he has to be ready now to recover.“
“Matthijs de Ligt will play “in the next few weeks” and Ayden Heaven is out again but Jonny Evans returns to training, even if he is not available for the Lyon clash.”
The Red Devils need to win to advance to the last four of the Europa League, the competition remains their only chance of winning a trophy this season.
