{"id":94097,"date":"2025-09-14T05:19:04","date_gmt":"2025-09-14T05:19:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=94097"},"modified":"2025-09-14T05:19:04","modified_gmt":"2025-09-14T05:19:04","slug":"goalkeepers-the-focus-as-man-united-man-city-clash-in-derby-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=94097","title":{"rendered":"Goalkeepers the focus as Man United, Man City clash in derby today"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>6 Minute, 36 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>
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It\u2019s evidence of how quickly things can change that at different points this summer, Ruben Amorim and Pep Guardiola, the managers of Manchester United and Manchester City, insisted they were happy with their goalkeepers.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to the first Manchester derby of the season, which takes place Sunday, and Guardiola is weighing whether Gianluigi Donnarumma will make his debut at the Etihad Stadium. Amorim has opted for his No. 2 from last season, Altay Bayindir, to play ahead of deadline-day signing Senne Lammens from Antwerp. Bayindir is preferred, according to Amorim, because he has more experience.<\/p>\n

Donnarumma, if selected, is unlikely to face a more pressure-packed moment in his City career than making his first Premier League appearance against United. His resume is not in doubt after a decade at the highest level with AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. There is a debate about whether the Italian is good enough with the ball at his feet to fit into Guardiola\u2019s system.<\/p>\n

One way or another, the goalkeepers at both ends of the pitch Sunday will be one of the talking points of the afternoon.<\/p>\n

United\u2019s mixed messaging
It\u2019s tempting to think United have lacked a clear plan with their goalkeepers. For most of the summer, Andr\u00e9 Onana thought he would remain the starter. He accepted Amorim\u2019s decision to leave him out of United\u2019s first game against Arsenal after missing most of the preseason because of a hamstring injury.<\/p>\n

Onana was surprised that he didn\u2019t return for the next game against Fulham \u2014 particularly after Bayindir made a costly mistake in the 1-0 loss to Arsenal. After the game, Amorim said he was happy with Onana, Bayindir and 39-year-old Tom Heaton as his three goalkeepers. Onana then made two mistakes in the shocking Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town.<\/p>\n

Onana remained convinced he would be the starter until the final weekend before the transfer deadline, when Amorim picked Bayindir in his starting XI to play Burnley, and United stepped up their intensity to sign Lammens. After rejecting interest from AS Monaco and Galatasaray, Cameroon international Onana has moved on loan to Trabzonspor to ensure he gets regular playing time.<\/p>\n

Onana\u2019s departure just two years after his \u00a343.8 million move from Inter Milan left Amorim to choose between Bayindir and Lammens to face City. This time, Bayindir won the battle. The Turkey international has made only seven Premier League appearances since his move from Fenerbahce in 2023 and has looked shaky at times this season. Any slipup at the Etihad, and the clamor among fans for Lammens will only intensify.<\/p>\n

Lammens: GK of the future or the present?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Privately, United have tempered expectations around the arrival of 23-year-old Lammens and stressed that he\u2019s considered a project with a high ceiling rather than a ready-made No. 1. Director of football Jason Wilcox echoed that approach when Lammens signed, the Belgium youth international is \u201can excellent young goalkeeper with great potential.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lammens hasn\u2019t made his full debut for Belgium and has just one full season in the Belgian Pro League. But because of continuing doubts about Bayindir, some supporters believe Lammens must play right away. Many wanted him to start against City, even if it meant getting his first taste of the Premier League in the cauldron of a derby.<\/p>\n

Lammens wouldn\u2019t have been the first United goalkeeper to debut in a big game. Massimo Taibi made his debut in a 3-2 win over Liverpool in September 1999, less than two weeks after his \u00a34.5 million move from Venezia. Despite being at fault for one of Liverpool\u2019s goals, Taibi made three good saves and was named Man of the Match at Anfield.<\/p>\n

But it was one just four league appearances for Taibi at United, as a howler in a 3-3 draw against Southampton and in a 5-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge brought a premature end to his career at Old Trafford. By January, he was back in Italy on loan at Reggina, proof of how difficult it is to be United\u2019s No. 1.<\/p>\n

Regarding why Onana\u2019s move from Inter Milan has not worked out, Amorim hinted that the goalkeeper could not deal with the spotlight that comes with what Gary Neville believes is \u201cthe hardest job in English football.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn this club, the pressure is sometimes so hard on every detail,\u201d Amorim said on Friday. For now, all eyes are on Bayindir.<\/p>\n

City facing their own questions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Guardiola is no stranger to throwing a goalkeeper in the deep end in a Manchester derby.<\/p>\n

After arriving in 2016, the new City boss quickly jettisoned No. 1 Joe Hart and replaced him with Claudio Bravo. The Chile international made his first appearance against United at Old Trafford after a \u00a317 million move from Barcelona. City won 2-1, but Bravo was at fault for United\u2019s goal, dropping a high ball and allowing Zlatan Ibrahimovic to score.<\/p>\n

Afterward, Guardiola defended Bravo by insisting he had been signed to \u201cplay in our buildup\u201d \u2014 something he quickly decided Hart couldn\u2019t do. Bravo didn\u2019t last long, but Guardiola\u2019s preference for a ball-playing goalkeeper eventually led City to Ederson. The Brazil international arrived in 2017 and helped Guardiola win 18 major trophies in nine years, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League.<\/p>\n

At the start of the summer, Guardiola said he expected Ederson to stay for at least one more year. He was wrong, and Ederson\u2019s departure to Fenerbahce on deadline day was quickly followed by Donnarumma\u2019s arrival. The Italy international is viewed as one of the best in the world, but it raises questions about what it means for Guardiola\u2019s tactics.<\/p>\n

Ederson\u2019s ability on the ball meant he could almost operate as an 11th outfield player. Donnarumma is considered a great shot-stopper, but he isn\u2019t as comfortable on the ball as Ederson. It\u2019s one of the reasons PSG coach Luis Enrique replaced him with Lucas Chevalier from Lille over the summer.<\/p>\n

Last season, Ederson\u2019s forward pass accuracy in Ligue 1 and Champions League was 73%. Donnarumma\u2019s was 56%. Ederson\u2019s long pass accuracy (anything 32 meters or more) was 57% compared with 40% for Donnarumma. In overall pass accuracy, goal-kick accuracy, passes per 90 minutes, forward passes per 90 minutes and chances created, Ederson rated higher.<\/p>\n

Donnarumma is capable with his feet, but he\u2019s not Ederson.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will not demand [Donnarumma] do something he\u2019s uncomfortable [with],\u201d Guardiola said at a news conference on Friday. \u201cWe\u2019re talking about the best player I\u2019ve ever seen in distribution short and long in Ederson. We didn\u2019t take [Donnarumma] to do what Ederson has done. He has other qualities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Guardiola could pick James Trafford against United after he rejoined City in a \u00a327 million deal from Burnley in the summer. Trafford grew up learning Guardiola\u2019s philosophy in City\u2019s academy and played for one of his coaching disciples, Vincent Kompany, at Turf Moor. The 22-year-old has started all three Premier League games this season, but it\u2019s unlikely Donnarumma has agreed to move to Manchester just to sit on the bench.<\/p>\n

Goalkeeper focus set to continue<\/strong><\/p>\n

Amorim has spared Lammens a baptism of fire against City. Guardiola says he\u2019s still deciding whether Trafford will keep his place or Donnarumma should go straight in.<\/p>\n

The questions are unlikely to go away. Speaking at their prematch news conferences, Amorim and Guardiola left the door open for changes. Amorim said Bayindir and Lammens will \u201cfight for the [No. 1] position,\u201d while Guardiola noted, \u201cthe season is so long, everyone will be involved. They may not believe it, but they will.\u201d<\/p>\n

Any mistakes at the Etihad and the changes will come sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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