MANCHESTER — On a day when headlines were dominated by two wingers left out of the Manchester United squad another winger, Amad Diallo, stole the show.
Diallo delivered a timely reminder that perhaps United will be fine if Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho are to leave Old Trafford in the coming months.
The Ivorian winger, still just 22, won the penalty kick for the equalizer in the 88th minute and scored a superbly taken winner in the 90th minute to stun Manchester City and lead Man United to a huge 2-1 win on derby day.
There was unease from the City fans whenever he get on the ball and a buzz and rumble from the away section when he marauded forward, so often leading United’s charge.
“He’s got a big future for this club”
Speaking to Pro Soccer Talk after the game, Diogo Dalot urged Amad to keep on pushing and build on his superb display against Man City.
“It’s what we want from him. When you’re in such good form, that’s the most important thing - you keep performing,” Dalot said. “It’s the hardest thing at a club like this being consistent in your performances, so we’re going to help him and we want him to stay at this level. We know he can be a really good player for us but it’s up to him to be in the right place, keep really humble and I think he has that ability.”
Does Dalot believe that Amad Diallo can become United’s go-to player in attack in the coming years?
“I think he can be a really good player. I’m not really focussing on whether he’s going to be the guy who is going to give us 50 goals a season but if he does we’re going to be really happy,” Dalot smiled.” But he knows that for him to do that, he will need the help of his teammates and that’s the thing that he has to focus on and I think he’s doing really well.”
Harry Maguire also heaped praise on the young winger, as he was asked about Diallo becoming a player for the big occasion.
“Yeah, definitely, he’s done really well this season,” Maguire said. “He’s only still a young boy, a lot to learn, but I’m sure he will get loads of experience playing in these big matches. I’m sure he’s got a big future for this club and we are happy that he’s doing well. Like I said, there’s still a long way to go and he’s got a big job to help us climb the table and improve this club.”
Diallo perfect fit for Amorim’s system
Even before new manager Ruben Amorim had arrived it had been a very good start to the season for Amad Diallo.
He was finally fit after a tough time with injuries but United had seen more than a few glimpses of the player he could become, as the talented winger dazzled on loan at Sunderland and it’s now easy to see why United agreed to pay Atalanta up to $42 million for the winger back in January 2021 when he was a teenager.
Diallo has been deployed in wing-back roles but he looked most dangerous in one of the No. 10 roles on Sunday. He flitted around under Rasmus Hojlund, causing chaos with his pressing, clever late runs and kept popping up between City’s center halves. He missed a big chance when he was just offside in the first half, then flicked a header that forced Ederson into a fine save in the second before he turned the game on its head.
Amad Diallo has scored two goals in 14 Premier League appearances, which is hardly red-hot, but he has a club-high six Premier League assists this season. This is only the start for him and under Amorim it appears he could be the winger who is most adaptable to be a star in the new system.
