'He didn’t say a word' - national media spot Ruben Amorim Man United dilemma after Newcastle
Latest Manchester United news as the national media have their say on United's disappointing defeat at Newcastle United
For the 14th time in the Premier League season, Manchester United fell to defeat. The 4-1 thrashing at Newcastle United was exactly what Ruben Amorim and his players didn't need ahead of Thursday's Europa League quarter-final second-leg clash with Lyon.
The club are set to record their worst-ever Premier League season. With six games left to play, United are 14th in the table and have lost four more games than they have won.
United haven't won since the 3-0 win over Leicester City on March 16, losing two and drawing two of their last four games. After Sandro Tonali's opener was cancelled out by Alejandro Garnacho, United fell apart in the second-half.
Harvey Barnes scored twice and Bruno Guimaraes capitalised on an error from Altay Bayindir to give the Magpies their biggest win over United in recent years.
It's fair to say the verdict from the national media has been scathing, with many raising the dilemma Amorim now faces in the goalkeeper position. So with that in mind, here's what they had to say.
Carl Anka of The Athletic wrote: "Some things change with Amorim’s United. Many do not. Their 4-1 defeat on Sunday came against a team better equipped for the physical challenges the Premier League demands of its best sides. The loss was their 14th of the league campaign and confirms the club will finish with their lowest points total of the Premier League era.
"So why did Manchester United 2024-25 become the club’s worst Premier League vintage? And should Sunday’s result be the reason for a widespread meltdown?
"The tactical answers are becoming mundane. Amorim’s men lost on Sunday for the same reason they have lost several Premier League games this season. They struggled to deal with the swarming hornet’s-nest defence that Howe and others have forged in the north east of England.
"Newcastle relish the physical battles that have been essential to modern Premier League matches. Amorim’s personnel changes unbalanced an already fragile team. A trio of second-half substitutions made clear the head coach’s priorities. He would rather protect his best assets for Thursday’s game — where Man United have a physical edge — than exhaust everything in an arm-wrestle with a much bigger Premier League foe."
Martin Hardy of The Times wrote: "By the end, even Ruben Amorim had run out of words. When Altay Bayindir — the goalkeeper brought in to stop the endless errors of André Onana — gifted Newcastle United their fourth goal of another punishing afternoon, Amorim simply stood, open-mouthed, in his technical area at the side of the St James’ Park pitch.
"He didn’t say a word. This Manchester United team can leave you speechless. Errors are such a regularity under Amorim that you can lose count. Bayindir, Diogo Dalot, Manuel Ugarte and Noussair Mazraoui all contributed to this drubbing.
"There have been five months of this. For every step forward there are another two in a different direction. They were calamitous in a second half that should cause real anxiety in the Old Trafford boardroom.
"A new goalkeeper must be added to a summer shopping list that will need to bring about a complete overhaul — in personnel, outlook and output. Manchester United sank to 14th, with a 14th league defeat of the season. They have officially not been worse since the Premier League’s inception in 1992."
Neil Johnston of BBC Sport wrote: "Altay Bayindir has had to show patience while waiting for a chance to show what he can do on the Premier League stage.
"Manchester United's back-up goalkeeper might have to wait a while longer to make a second top-flight appearance after a day to forget against Newcastle.
"Bayindir, a £4.3m signing from Fenerbahce in September 2023, was given the nod after Ruben Amorim decided to take first-choice Andre Onana out of the firing line following his errors against Lyon in the Europa League last Thursday.
"Yet Turkey international Bayindir conceded with the first shot he faced and then clipped a clearance straight to Joelinton who set up Bruno Guimaraes to make it 4-1.
"In total, Bayindir faced six shots and conceded four times as Newcastle dismantled their opponents with considerable ease.
"What does the Manchester United boss do for their biggest match of the season on Thursday - recall Onana or stick with Bayindir?"