The manner in which Manchester United cruised past Everton – Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee hitting braces, Amad Diallo dazzling – not only enhanced Ruben Amorim’s reputation but further damaged that of Erik ten Hag.
Why, pray tell, did Amorim’s successor seem so insistent on using Marcus Rashford as a touchline winger? Chalk on his boots and restricted to the role of ‘wide playmaker’ as Diogo Dalot frequently found himself in the sort of one-on-one position in which Manchester United’s number ten excels.
Why did Ten Hag leave Joshua Zirkzee – a footballer at his most effective when combining in tight spaces with players around him – so isolated as a lone forward?
And, perhaps the biggest question facing Ten Hag as Manchester United kick-started the Amorim era against Everton, why was Amad Diallo little more than an afterthought?
Of all the decisions Ten Hag made during his final few months at Old Trafford, reducing Amad to the role of a spectator and occasional substitute is perhaps the one that will age the worst. With six goals or assists in his last five games, arguably no player has performed better at Man United since Ten Hag was sacked at the end of October.
And, to think, Amad might have turned his back on United had Ineos not taken the decision to belatedly swing the axe on their FA Cup and EFL Cup-winning coach.
Amad Diallo might have left Manchester United under Erik ten Hag
“Before the summer transfer window, I told you how 2024 was going to be crucial for Manchester United to extend the contact of Amad Diallo. Why? Because the current deal expires in the summer of 2025,” Fabrizio Romano explains.
“In the summer, Amad changed agents. Basically, what Manchester United did is restart the conversations with new agents. They had very positive feelings because Amad is very happy at May United and Man United as a club are very happy with Amad.
“But then there was that moment between September and October when Erik ten Hag was not playing Amad anymore. Amad was no longer trusted by the technical staff at Manchester United, so was quite a difficult moment.
“And that was also having an impact on the contract talks. That’s why the new contract of Amad was not signed. Obviously, Amad wants to play on regular basis.”
The more you think about it, the odder this situation appears.
Amad enjoyed a hugely impressive start to the campaign – he scored against Brighton in August – but still found himself warming the bench again a few weeks later. He didn’t even get on the pitch during the goalless draw with Aston Villa and the 2-1 win over Brentford.
Big steps towards new Amad deal under Ruben Amorim
Fortunately, any faith Ten Hag may have lacked in Amad – and it is increasingly difficult to figure out why that might have been – is offset by Ruben Amorim’s belief in the little winger.
‘Small in size, big in talent’; Amorim’s glowing assessment as Amad produced a typically twinkle-toed but tigerish display in that Everton battering only enhances the feeling that the former Sunderland loanee is just about one of the first names on the Man United team sheet these days.
According to Romano, that new contract could finally be signed now before the end of the year. Talk about an early Christmas present.
“New coach Ruben Amorim absolutely loves Amad. He absolutely trusts Amad and Amad loves Man United,” Romano adds.
“So, what I can tell you is that contract talks are advancing very well now between Amad Diallo and Manchester United. Sources believe that this deal could happen before before the end of the year.
“Amad is happy with the new coach, the new coach is happy with Amad, the management is excited by excited by the potential deal. So, the feeling is very positive.”
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