Last month, goalkeeper Altay Bayındır faced severe criticism after making a costly mistake against Tottenham Hotspur, but now he’s the hero of Manchester United’s victory.
Altay Bayındır’s journey is a testament to how quickly things can change. Just a month ago, after a huge blunder against Tottenham, the second-choice goalkeeper for Manchester United was heavily criticized. However, following his exceptional performance against Arsenal, he’s now receiving praise. The Turkish goalkeeper is now the hero of Old Trafford after guiding the team to victory.
In the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday night, Bayındır’s heroics led to a 5-3 penalty shootout win for Hübey Amuri’s team, after the regular time and extra time ended in a 1-1 draw.
Last month, in a 4-3 loss to Tottenham, Bayındır had been responsible for a major blunder. In the League Cup quarter-finals, Tottenham’s captain, Son Heung-min, scored directly from a corner in the 88th minute, which was a turning point in the loss.
Following that defeat, Bayındır faced harsh criticism from fans and experts alike. Just one month and one match later, everything has changed. The 26-year-old goalkeeper is now being hailed as the ‘hero’ by United coach Amuri.
The towering Turkish goalkeeper has only had opportunities to play in cup competitions at United. He joined from Fenerbahçe in September 2023 for £4.3 million and has only played four matches in the League Cup and FA Cup this season.
After his error-ridden match against Tottenham, questions had started to arise about Bayındır’s ability. But his brilliant performance against Arsenal turned the tide, shifting the focus from criticism to praise. After Diogo Dalot was sent off in the 61st minute, it wasn’t easy for Bayındır to keep his team in the game during extra time.
That’s why United’s coach Amuri praised him after the match:
“A footballer’s life can change in a moment. Sometimes in one week, everything can change, and we’re seeing that with Altay,” said Amuri. “He’s a great person, works hard, and all players on this team are lucky to play for Manchester United. It doesn’t matter if you play one match or ninety, being part of this team is always an honor.”
In the 72nd minute, Arsenal had a golden opportunity to take the lead, but Bayındır saved a penalty from their captain, Martin Ødegaard. If Bayındır had missed the save, United would have been 2-1 down.
United’s defense rallied, and they managed to take the game to a penalty shootout. In the shootout, Bayındır once again shone, saving Kai Havertz’s shot and making history. He became the first goalkeeper since the 2013-14 season to save a penalty in both regular time and a shootout in an FA Cup match.
Bayındır, however, doesn’t dwell on the achievement. He’s simply happy to have contributed to the team:
“I just want to make everyone at this great club happy. I work here every day. If I don’t get to play, that’s fine. You need to be ready every minute, every second. If you’re a Manchester United player, you always have to be prepared.”
