The winner at Man City. The equalizing goal in Liverpool. And now a match-winning hat-trick, a week after signing a new long-term contract with Man Utd.
Amad Diallo is the shining light of Ruben Amorim’s reign so far.
“This is probably one of the best weeks of my life,” he said TNT Sports as his 12-minute hat-trick transformed history for United. It was the first hat-trick of his senior career, just seven days after agreeing a deal that keeps him at United until 2030.
A miserable 75 minutes set them on course for defeat against the Premier League’s bottom club. Instead, United fans at Old Trafford went home chanting Amad’s name. “I am very happy for this victory”, added Ivoriani.
Only Wayne Rooney has scored a Premier League hat-trick at a younger age for Manchester United. Still, even at just 22, Amad is showing his more experienced teammates how to adapt and thrive in an unfamiliar system.
Whether he’s playing as one of two strikers supporting the striker or moved into a wing-back position – as he was for his last hat-trick – Amad is finding ways to influence play in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 .
It is significant that of Amad’s six league goals this season, two have been winners and three have been equalisers. In the big moments, Amad has grown. Not bad for a player who was handed just three top-flight starts by Erik ten Hag last season.
Ironically, it is the man who ignited Amad’s form who is underestimating his achievements.
“He’s having a very good season. That’s it,” Amorim said in his postgame press conference.
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Ruben Amorim congratulates Amad Diallo on his hat-trick against Southampton but says he has no time for celebrations as he has to rest for the next game against Brighton.
“We have to be careful with young kids. It was a very good job today. He has a lot to improve. But this game is in the past. We have to prepare for the future. In football life is like that.
“He did a great job. It’s a great moment for a young kid to score a hat-trick for a club like this. But he has to focus on the next game because it’s already in the past and prepare the game next.”
Amorim is clearly keen to keep the hype around Amad under control. This is likely due to the difficulty of the wider task he has on his hands. But for United fans – enduring another challenging season – it’s hard not to get excited about the potential of this rising star.
Analysis: Amad opens again
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Sky Sports’ Anton Toloui and Adam Bate discuss Amad Diallo’s late hat-trick to save Manchester United against Southampton, but also look at the concerns in their first-half performance.
Sky Sports’ Adam Bate at Old Trafford:
“Tactically, United were outplayed by Southampton. Leny Yoro was exposed by Kamaldeen Sulemana, the pressure – against an error-prone team at the back – was uncoordinated throughout, and there was an attempt at team play that was alarming.
“Some of these players are still uncomfortable with what Amorimi is asking them to do, while the coach himself admits the demands represent a complete reversal of what they were taught. Some may simply be unsuited to what is required.
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Antony missed a glorious chance to draw Manchester United level against Southampton, but was it a contender for loss of the season or just bad timing?
“But in those circumstances, you learn even more about players and people. Amad stepped up again. Like he did with the winning goal against Manchester City. Like he did with the equalizer at Liverpool recently. Here, it was a hat trick to turn it all around.
“He didn’t wait for it to happen, he did it. a defender who mishandles the ball.
“He did it as the nominal full-back in Amorim’s system, moved there to cover the absence of the suspended Diogo Dalot. How his manager would love it if everyone in his squad could embrace challenges – mentally and tactically – as he has this season.”
Amad Diallo is Man Utd’s top scorer in the Premier League this season
Analysis: Amad contract extension is Man Utd’s best transfer business
Sky Sports News’ Anton Toloui at Old Trafford:
“So much talk in this transfer window has been about the futures of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, but locking Amad to a new contract looks like the best business Man Utd will do.
“They need someone to step up, take risks, push forward and take the game away from their opponents – the Ivory Coast have done just that this week.
“Mainoo left early, Garnacho has missed key chances, Rashford is nowhere to be seen, but Amad has grown.”
Amorim: We have a lot to do
While Amadi’s heroics spared United blushes, Amorim is in no doubt about the scale of the task on his hands.
“The feeling is that we have so much to do,” he said TNT Sports after the match. “I felt the team was really tired – Liverpool, Arsenal 120 minutes, it’s not just the physical part, the mental part of the players. So it was a win, let’s move on.”
He also noted the pressure his players were feeling playing in front of their own fans. United had lost their last three at Old Trafford – the club have not lost four in a row at home since 1934. Another issue was the team’s struggles to press cohesively as a unit after Southampton went ahead at half-time.
“Playing in this stadium, we’ve lost the last three games here, the pressure is different,” he said. “We try to press the opponent in the lift and you can feel the difficulty. Then they connect between the lines and cause us many problems.
“We struggle to press up at the moment. This team is not used to doing that and then it looks like a lack of enthusiasm. (Manuel) Ugarte is late, Kobbie Mainoo is late, Bruno (Fernandes) is coming out and Topi is inside, then a transition and (Leny) Yoro can’t catch (Sulemana).
“It’s little things and then we get nervous without the ball. But then when you have a goal, an opportunity, you feel like the team can control the game better.
“I want to be fair to my players. Today there was no lack of enthusiasm. It was a lack of speed and sometimes a lack of control of the game.”
