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No Manchester United player has produced more goals or assists at a better rate than Amad Diallo this season with the Ivorian international returning a contribution every 111 minutes. As a demonstration of how strong a rate this is, Bruno Fernandes is next on the list for United with a goal or assist every 149 minutes.
Since Ruben Amorim’s appointment in November, Amad has scored twice and assisted five times in the Premier League, despite often being deployed as a right wingback in the early period of the Portuguese coach’s tenure.
However, Amad’s undeniable influence in the attacking third has led Amorim to deploy him as part of the front three in recent matches, with a stunning assist and goal combination in the dying moments of the Manchester Derby to give the Red Devils an unforgettable comeback win.
And it was a similar story on Thursday night in the Carabao Cup quarter final against Tottenham Hotspur.
Amad began the night on the bench as he watched his teammates fall to a three-nil disadvantage at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Amorim turned to the 22-year-old in the second half, with the winger immediately bringing an intensity and thrust to an attack which had struggled before his introduction.
A coordinated press involving Amad, Joshua Zirkzee, and Fernandes penned the Spurs defence in, quickly forcing a disastrous mistake by goalkeeper Fraser Forster which allowed Zirkzee to make the game 3-1.
Then just seven minutes later, Amad ruthlessly hunted down Forster as he dallied on the ball, launching himself as the Spurs shot stopper to force a deflection into the roof of the net. 3-2.
And it was almost a fairy tale moment minutes later when the 22-year-old winger launched a vicious shot at the Tottenham goal which Forster struggled to deal, choosing to clear the ball with his feet as the United fans in the away end rose to their feet.
Ultimately, the Reds were unable to overcome the Spurs deficit as Altay Bayindir committed his own blunder to eventually lead to a 4-3 final score, after a late Jonny Evans consolation goal.
There is little doubt, however, that had Amad started the game, United would currently be looking forward to a Carabao Cup semi-final in January.
Amad’s potent pairing of technical quality and direct dribbling makes him a nightmare for opposition fullbacks. Only Mohammed Salah has produced more attempted take-ons than the young Ivorian this season in the league, with Amad returning three goal involvements from direct take-ons into the box – more than any other player.
Amorim is evidently aware of the growing influence the diminutive winger is able to produce on the pitch, with only three other players playing more minutes under the Portuguese coach since his arrival (Fernandes, Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui).
There are a host of criticisms that can be justifiably levelled at Amorim’s predecessor, Erik ten Hag, with United’s proneness towards chaos and complete lack of attacking threat chief among them. But perhaps most damning of all was the Dutchman’s apparent disinterest in playing Amad with reports suggesting Ten Hag and his coaching staff had lost faith in the 22-year-old earlier this season.
To have lost faith in a player who has arguably been United’s most effective operator this season borders on inexcusable; and it goes a long way to explaining why Ten Hag eventually ran out of excuses at the end of October.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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