Manchester United supporters have not seen a lot of Altay Bayindir since he signed for the club from Fenerbahce.
A reliance on Andre Onana and reluctance to rotate in cup competitions meant that Altay Bayindir played only one match for Manchester United in 2023/24.
He played more for national side Turkey – even though he is not first choice. He is one of three goalkeepers in the squad for Euro 2024, with manager Vincenzo Montella selecting him for the second game of the tournament.
It did not go well, with Portugal beating Turkey 3-0. The second goal was a complete disaster.
Bayindir stepped out to receive a backpass, only for his defender to fail to look at his positioning, and sweep the ball past him into his own net.
Turkey boss explains Bayindir selection
Turkey manager Montella explained why Bayindir replaced Besiktas stopper Mert Gunok in goal, who had started the first game.
He told NTV Spor: “All three of our goalkeepers are very good. Altay; he was very good in the matches against Italy, Wales and Germany. We woke up this morning with an injury, so we made such a decision.”
Montella said his side will do everything they can to get a result in their final group game with Czech Republic.
“We made mistakes and were punished harshly. We will put everything we have into the next match. “
Former Fenerbahce goalkeeper and pundit Volkan Demirel told Milliyet that he pinned the goal on a simple lack of communication.
He said: “Altay could have come out and taken the ball without Samet having to pass it. But the concentration on the field… If Samet had let it [go], Altay would have taken it very easily. There is a lack of communication.”
He went on to add: “[The] match was not about the players, all the players were ineffective. We were not good as a team, it was a bad situation as a whole team.”
Turkish media on Bayindir
The Turkish press were more unforgiving of the goal, particularly where it came to Bayindir.
Haber reported there was ‘intense criticism from the moment the squad was announced’ for the game.
The outlet blamed Bayindir for the goal, writing that he ‘took the wrong position’ to receive the pass, labelling it a ‘big mistake’ to step ‘unnecessarily to his left and leave the goalmouth unguarded.
It added that Trabzonspor’s more experienced Ugurcan Cakir ‘was seen as fitter and more ready than Altay Bayindir’.
Turkish outlet Posta described the goal as ‘an incredible mistake’, pinning the blame equally on Bayindir and defender Akaydin.
Whether Bayindir gets another chance this tournament remains to be seen. There was little he could do for the other goals, scored by Bernardo Silva and United teammate Bruno Fernandes.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/UWc51GK