Sports
Man United have a goalkeeper problem, but solving it might have to wait
As he walked into his first Friday news conference of the season, coach Ruben Amorim was keen to point out the upgrade Manchester United‘s Carrington training center has undergone over the summer. A designated media theater has been set up in the first-team building as part of the £50 million revamp and on his first visit, a smiling Amorim was suitably impressed.
“Better, eh?” he said as he sat down in front of reporters to answer questions ahead of Arsenal‘s trip to Old Trafford on the opening weekend of the Premier League campaign.
With the cameras on, he spoke for around 20 minutes about some of the other changes the club have made since the end of last season. Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko have arrived to give the squad a fresh look. Amorim has even changed the way his team prepare for home games, deciding it’s better that they meet at Carrington and travel to the stadium later than have his players eat their prematch meal at Old Trafford and wait around for hours until kickoff.
But among the sound bites on Sesko, team preparations and Arsenal, there was a key point that Amorim wanted to get across. Yes, he is hoping for a much-improved season after United’s worst domestic campaign for more than 50 years. The one caveat: “We cannot change everything in four weeks.”
This feeling was particularly pertinent after the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal. Altay Bayindir‘s mistake, which allowed Arsenal left back Riccardo Calafiori to score the winner, prompted an inquisition in the postmatch news conference about why United have not signed a new goalkeeper this summer. Amorim chose to defend Bayindir and double down, saying that he’s “happy” with his goalkeeping group, which also includes André Onana and Tom Heaton. In his head, though, you can imagine he was repeating his quote from three days earlier: “We can’t change everything in one summer.”
Sources told ESPN that signing a new first-team goalkeeper was discussed as early as January, but after a season in which United managed just 44 Premier League goals — the fifth-worst mark in 2024-25 — Amorim and recruitment staff decided it was more important to rebuild the attack. More than £200 million has been spent on Cunha, Mbeumo and Sesko in the hope United will have more of a cutting edge. It does, however, mean that other improvements to the squad — namely in goal and in midfield — might have to wait. CEO Omar Berrada has already squeezed every last penny out the budget.
It’s similar to the situation former coach Erik ten Hag faced when he took over at Old Trafford in 2022. The Dutchman identified very quickly that he needed a different goalkeeper from David De Gea, the No. 1 at the time. But with other positions also in need of strengthening, Ten Hag chose instead to spend his money on Lisandro Martínez, Casemiro, Antony and Tyrell Malacia.
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There was hope that De Gea might learn to become better on the ball with a year of coaching. In the end, Ten Hag decided to cut ties with the Spaniard and sign Onana in summer 2023.
Onana has endured a roller coaster two years at United. There have been some stunning saves, particularly one on a shot by Liam Delap against Ipswich Town in Amorim’s first game in charge. Yet there has also been a catalog of mistakes. Two against Lyon in the Europa League in April saw Amorim decide to drop the Cameroon international for the next Premier League game against Newcastle United.
It sums up Amorim’s predicament that at St. James’ Park he picked Bayindir, who then also made an error in a 4-1 defeat.
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Ogden: Man United have the worst two goalkeepers in the Premier League
Mark Ogden explains why he believes Ruben Amorim needs to sign a new goalkeeper at Manchester United.
Amorim can make a strong argument that United should replace Onana. In his two years in the Premier League, he has made five mistakes that have directly led to goals — the fifth-most by any goalkeeper during the same period. His save percentage of 68.5 ranks only 11th in the league, while he ranks 12th for goals prevented per 90 minutes.
United have looked at other goalkeepers during the transfer window. Aston Villa knocked back a loan bid for Emiliano Martínez shortly after Onana suffered the hamstring injury that kept him sidelined during preseason. There was brief interest in Joan García before it became clear he wanted to join Barcelona from Espanyol. United are also looking at Senne Lammens at Antwerp, but he’s not considered a No.1.
The message from United sources since the defeat to Arsenal is that any additional transfer funds raised by departures — most likely Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund — are likely to be reinvested in a midfielder rather than a goalkeeper. Onana is available for around £30 million, but there has been little interest since a tentative enquiry from Monaco in June. The club expect hi to stay, and he’s expected to reclaim his place for the trip to Fulham on Sunday, and as things stand, he will remain United’s No. 1 for at least another year.
The game at Craven Cottage gives United the chance to build on the positivity generated by the performance against Arsenal and put their first points on the board. Amorim has made a lot of changes in an attempt to bury the memory of last season and start moving forward, but the one in goal may have to wait.
The playing control teams for the April 28 qualifier, April 29 eliminator 1 and May 1 eliminator 2 of the HBL Pakistan Super League 11 have been appointed, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Tuesday.
Member of ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees Sir Richard Richardson will lead the playing control team for the qualifier between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi.
Earlier, he made his HBL PSL debut as the match official on April 15 and will bow out for this season, having officiated 10 games.
Christopher Gaffaney of New Zealand will be joined by Alexander Wharf of England as an on-field umpire for the qualifier. Both are part of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires.
Faisal Khan Aafreedi, ICC International Panel Umpire, will serve as the third Umpire, while PCB’s National Elite Panel Umpire Zulfiqar Jan will be the fourth umpire for the all-important 41st HBL PSL 11 match.
Roshan Mahanama of Sri Lanka will lead the playing control team in both eliminators.
He has the honour of officiating in all 11 HBL PSL seasons, and his tally of games as match referee in the league currently stands at 127.
In the Hyderabad Kingsmen v Multan Sultans eliminator 1 in Lahore, ICC Elite Panel Umpire Shahid Saikat from Bangladesh will join ICC Emerging Panel Umpire Asif Yaqoob as on-field Umpire, while Rashid Riaz Waqar of ICC Emerging Panel of Umpires will be the third Umpire.
Nasir Hussain of ICC International Panel of Umpires will perform duties as the fourth Umpire.
The eliminator 2 on May 1 between the winner of eliminator 1 and the losing team of qualifier will be officiated on-field by ICC Elite Panel Umpires Ahsan Raza and Shahid Saikat, while Asif Yaqoob and Rashid Riaz will carry out the duties of third and fourth Umpire, respectively.
The match officials for the highly anticipated May 3 final will be announced in due course.
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The most pressure-packed scoring opportunity in soccer might be the one where no one is defending: the penalty kick.
A goal is almost certain, so long as you keep a cool head and beat the goalkeeper. Simple enough, right?
But what exactly is a penalty kick, and how is it awarded? Here’s everything you need to know about the penalty kick ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
What Is A Penalty Kick?
A penalty kick — or “PK” — is a one-on-one duel between a field player and a goalkeeper in which the field player tries to score a direct kick from the penalty spot.
How Is A Penalty Kick Awarded?
A penalty kick is awarded when a player commits a foul — tripping, pushing or a handball — inside the penalty area, which is a large 18-yard box that extends from the goal line into the field of play. The total width of the box is 44 yards.
A penalty can be awarded in the run of play or during a Video Assistant Referee check.
Who Takes The Penalty Kick?
The designated penalty taker is usually predetermined based on a player’s proven ability to score, from the penalty spot or otherwise. For example, Harry Kane, the active leading goalscorer for England, is the designated penalty taker for the Three Lions.
How Far Is The Penalty Spot?
The penalty is 12 yards from the center of the goal line, meaning that there are just 12 yards that separate the penalty taker and the goalkeeper at the time of a penalty kick.
What Are The Rules For The Penalty Taker?
The penalty taker is given freedom to confuse the goalkeeper during their run-up to the kick so long as:
- The penalty taker doesn’t attempt a fake kick or a “feint” while attempting to strike the ball AND
- The penalty doesn’t make contact with the ball more than once during their attempt.
If a penalty taker participates in illegal feinting, they will be cautioned and an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team.
If a penalty taker makes contact with the ball more than once during their attempt and the attempt is successful, the penalty kick will be retaken. If it isn’t, it will be recorded as a miss and play will resume.
What Are The Rules For The Goalkeeper?
The goalkeeper must follow three key rules during a penalty kick: face the kicker, stay between the goalposts and keep at least one foot on or over the goal line until the kick.
If a goalkeeper leaves their line during a penalty attempt and the attempt is unsuccessful, it will be retaken. If the attempt is successful, it will result in a goal.
Additionally, goalkeepers may not touch the goalposts, crossbar or netting as an intimidation tactic. Trash-talking is also not permitted.
How Often Are Penalty Kicks Awarded?
There were 23 penalty kicks awarded at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which was six fewer than in 2018. Argentina led all countries in penalty attempts with five, and its designated penalty taker, Lionel Messi, converted all five attempts.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled ticketing information for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 Qualifier between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United, set to take place at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium on Tuesday.
According to the cricket board, E-Tickets for the high-stakes fixture can be purchased from tonight, with prices for all enclosures of the aforementioned venue set at Rs500.
Furthermore, the physical tickets will be available for sale from Tuesday morning and can be bought at the TCS Express Centre at the China Ground situated opposite the venue.
The PCB further advised fans with tickets to reach the stadium “well before the start of play” to avoid any inconvenience. Notably, the coin toss for the Qualifier will take place at 6:30pm as per the Pakistan Standard Time (PST), with the first ball to be bowled at 7pm.
Meanwhile, the ticket details for the remaining two playoffs, set to be played in Lahore, will be announced in due course.
The cricket board announced the ticketing details hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif granted approval for public attendance in all three playoffs of the ongoing PSL 11.
Taking to X, PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi said he had a meeting with the premier, during which the cricket board secured his approval for allowing fans in the stadia for the upcoming playoffs of the eight-team tournament.
“Just had a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and I’m pleased to share that we have secured his approval for public attendance in all three PSL playoff matches as well,” Naqvi wrote on the microblogging website.
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