Ruben Amorim has revealed that Manchester United do not have a definitive number one goalkeeper. United secured Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp on transfer deadline day for £18.2million, including add-ons, with the 23-year-old left on the substitutes’ bench during the Manchester derby.
Altay Bayindir has featured in all four of United’s Premier League fixtures this campaign, having joined for £4.3m from Fenerbahce as understudy to Andre Onana on deadline day in September 2023. United permitted Onana to move to Trabzonspor on a season-long loan deal earlier this month, leaving them without an established first-choice goalkeeper.
When questioned whether Bayindir had become United’s new number one, Amorim responded: “No, nobody has a place that is his place. Everyone has to fight. Everyone is fighting for a place. I’m just trying to win games, trying to see what is the best option to win the next game.
“So, in the end of the season, maybe it’s a different team on the pitch. We are just trying to win games. Trying to get the best connections to play better and, in the end, to win points.”
Summer acquisition Benjamin Sesko remains without a goal for United following five appearances.
Sesko earned his first full league start during the 3-0 defeat at City after drawing a blank in two appearances for Slovenia during their World Cup qualifiers this month. The 22-year-old became the tenth outfield player to step up during the dramatic 12-11 penalty shootout loss to Grimsby Town in the League Cup second round, despite battling cramp after 90 minutes.
During the international break, Sesko admitted he required more time to settle at United.
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The former RB Leipzig forward is three months younger than his predecessor, Rasmus Hojlund, who netted just three goals in his final 35 outings for United before securing a loan move to Napoli.
United have registered the highest number of goal attempts in the league this season, struck the woodwork more frequently than any other side, whilst Bruno Fernandes has crafted more opportunities than any other player.
Amorim conceded that Sesko appeared too isolated during the Manchester derby.
“I think, if you remember Arsenal, I think we missed a lot,” Amorim said. Burnley, I think we missed a lot. Fulham in the beginning, I think we missed a lot. We have four games and I said three.
“And then there is the thing that you say is not a big opportunity. The first play (against City), Amad has the ball between the lines. It’s four against three and we put the ball out. It’s not a big opportunity. It should be. So all these things.
“But if you ask me, against City, Sesko looks like he’s alone in the box, I agree. He was always alone. So the guys were around, near the box. But in the final third, we get there many times.
“But I also said that, I think, in the end of the game. When I look at the box, Ben was alone. We cannot score in that way. So I think it’s not the same team in that department compared to last year.
“He’s at a different club. He’s taking it all in and he’s a professional. So you can feel that. He wants everything for tomorrow and we have to balance that.
“But he’s doing the job. And again, guys, we can talk about all the things here. The system: if one ball goes inside the box, we win one game and two, this will change.
“The important thing is that last year, I said to you, I think I was really clear: we cannot play well. We cannot create chances. This year is completely different. We can avoid all the goals that we are suffering. Yes, it’s our fault. So let’s work on that and try next week and next week and next week.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk