Manchester United was eliminated from the Carabao Cup on Thursday evening after succumbing to a thrilling 4-3 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The match, which marked United's exit at the quarter-final stage, saw goalkeeper Altay Bayindir take center stage for all the wrong reasons.
Rúben Amorim made the controversial decision to start Bayindir, placing faith in the Turkish international over regular first-choice goalkeeper André Onana. The gamble backfired dramatically. Bayindir, who had only recently returned from being sidelined, was caught out early when he mishandled a long-range shot from Pedro Porro, directing it straight to Dominic Solanke, who calmly slotted it home for Spurs’ opener.
Moments after the break, disaster struck once more as Tottenham pounced again with two quick goals. Dejan Kulusevski and Solanke capitalized on defensive lapses by United, sending them 3-0 down before the hosts allowed United to build some momentum. A surge led by Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo saw United claw back two goals, bringing the score to 3-2, but just when they looked poised for level terms, Son Heung-min struck directly from a corner kick, sealing Bayindir’s unceremonious night.
Post-match, Amorim defended his goalkeeper. “He doesn’t have to do [blame himself]. He has to focus and we will see the game and we will improve every player of this team,” he stated, emphasizing his belief in team performance over individual error. “We controlled the possession. I think we were not the best team in all of the game, but most of the parts I think we were the best team,” he added, remarking on United's overall performance.
Former player Gary Neville criticized Bayindir’s performance, particularly on the first goal, insisting, “The goalkeeper, he has to push [the ball] wide. He can’t push [it] back [into the danger zone].” His words echoed the sentiments of frustrated fans, many of whom took to social media to voice their concerns, with one stating, “Bayındır is furious and looks to be asking for VAR, which isn't being used tonight.”
The lack of VAR came under scrutiny, especially for the contentious fourth goal, but the rules of the Carabao Cup dictate the technology is not employed until the semi-finals. Reactions varied, with comments such as, “That is not Bayındır's fault, blatant cheating... is a complete joke!” highlighting the mix of frustration and miscommunication surrounding the officiation.
This match not only highlighted Bayindir's shortcomings but also raised questions about Amorim’s decision-making and squad depth. Critically, it brought forward concerns about United’s reliance on players unaccustomed to high-pressure matches, especially with Bayindir’s lack of prior playtime leading to a tentative display.
Despite the defeat, United showed resilience with their attacking play, leaving spectators wondering what might have been had Bayindir maintained his position more assertively. The Red Devils must regroup quickly, as they shift their focus back to the Premier League where they will face Bournemouth soon. This loss seemingly marks yet another dent to their quest for silverware this season, placing significant pressure on Amorim’s managerial choices moving forward.
Now the question arises: Will they bounce back from this disappointing defeat? Or does this performance spell the end of Altay Bayindir’s time at the club? The coming weeks will reveal the direction Manchester United takes after this painful exit from the Carabao Cup.
