Dimitar Berbatov has made his feelings perfectly clear on one Manchester United star under Erik ten Hag and backed him to succeed at Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag’s men suffered a penalty shootout defeat to Manchester City in the Community Shield at Wembley ahead of the 2024-25 Premier League season.
Manchester United rallied back from the aforementioned defeat and kicked off their Premier League campaign with a win over Fulham at Old Trafford last week.
Joshua Zirkzee came off the bench and the United summer signing broke the deadlock in the second half to secure the 1-0 win over Fulham.
Ten Hag’s men will now turn their attention to the first match away from home this season, with United travelling to the Amex for their clash with Brighton on Saturday.
Berbatov speaks out on Man Utd star
Speaking to Futbin, Dimitar Berbatov dropped his verdict on Manchester United winger Amad Diallo and his emergence at Old Trafford.
Amad Diallo missed the opening months of the 2023-24 Premier League campaign after he suffered a knee injury on United’s pre-season tour in 2023.
The 22-year-old Ivorian winger battled for minutes last season under Erik ten Hag and continued to push for his place as a regular starter in the starting XI.
Diallo played an active part in the pre-season campaign this summer and the United star was arguably the standout performer from the tour.
The Ivory Coast international started the 1-0 win over Fulham and played 61 minutes before he was withdrawn for Alejandro Garnacho.
“Amad is still very, very young with a lot of football to play,” Berbatov said.
“I think it was beneficial for him to go on loan to Sunderland because you could see he wasn’t ready to face and play regularly in the Manchester United first team.
“Now there’s an improvement and growth in the way that he plays football. I think Ten Hag said that Amad is now ready to make the difference and to play more but the competition is going to be high.
“It’s a sensitive and delicate situation when you’re faced with competition and you’re fighting for one place with four other players fighting for it.
“You need concentration on the training pitch, concentration during the games and whilst you prepare for games.”
Berbatov’s message to Diallo
Diallo managed only 12 appearances across all competitions last season after his return from injury, with the Ivorian attacker scoring two times for the club.
However, the Ivory Coast winger made his mark during the 2023-24 campaign, including scoring a sensational winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Berbatov has urged a United player like Diallo not to be discouraged if he isn’t playing and told him to now “seize” his opportunity in the team.
“Don’t be discouraged when you’re not playing. Sometimes football can be cruel but stay fighting, do your best in training and I think he’ll get chances to play this season,” he continued.
“He has to seize them but not only on the right. Sometimes he might have to play on the left or as a number 10.
“Maybe the coach needs you there and you’ll find out something about yourself you didn’t know existed.
“Maybe you can play in different positions. It’ll be interesting to see how Ten Hag manages the luxury of options that he has.”
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