Ruben Amorim is beginning to prove already that it really is pretty simple – pick your best players.
There has been no better player this season in attack for Manchester United than Amad Diallo. The young Ivorian was the team’s star in pre-season, and began the campaign well.
But former boss Erik ten Hag was rarely convinced with Amad, going back to selecting Omari Forson over him in the home loss to Fulham last season.
As soon as an opportunity came along to drop Amad this season, Ten Hag did so, with Ruud van Nistelrooy needing to salvage his confidence.
Amad is getting substantial game time
When Amad did start under Erik ten Hag, he was often hooked early. Ruben Amorim is clearly more convinced.
Amorim has kept Amad on the pitch for 90 minutes in five matches this season already.
Erik ten Hag played Amad for 90 minutes only once – the 3-0 win over Southampton in which the winger created five chances. He was not rewarded with further opportunities.
Whether it be at wing-back or in a more attacking role, Amad is integral to Amorim’s plans.
And Erik ten Hag may be having some regrets right now at a self-inflicted error not to give the Ivorian more opportunities.
Amad a big game contributor
Amad now has winning goals to his name against Liverpool and Manchester City in 2024. He also scored in a win over Newcastle.
And this leads us to turn back to Manchester United’s two worst home losses this season, 3-0 versus Liverpool and 3-0 against Tottenham.
Do you know what the common denominator was in both games? Amad was left on the bench.
By time Amad came on against Liverpool, United were 3-0 down. In just 29 minutes on the pitch he had more touches inside the opposition box than any other player.
Amad was given just five minutes in the 3-0 loss to Tottenham. He will surely start against them in the Carabao Cup quarter-final this week.
Add in the most bizarre decision of Erik ten Hag’s managerial career – when he selected Noussair Mazraoui at number 10 instead of Amad, in the draw against Fenerbahce. Ten Hag was fired days later.
Those three games, against Liverpool, Spurs and Fenerbahce were matches that seriously accelerated Ten Hag’s demise, and leaving out Amad may have been a big contributory factor.
Amad is quickly positioning himself as the breakout star of the Ruben Amorim era – even though the boss modestly says he is just continuing Ruud van Nistelrooy’s work.
Erik ten Hag, on the other hand, looks to have had a big hand in his own demise by failing to really trust Amad to deliver for his team.
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